As of October 27, there were 118,409 confirmed cases of the Covid-19 virus in the state, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. 15,480 of those are active. There were 22 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. This current death toll stands at 1,273.
In Blaine County, according to emergency management officials, there are 44 active cases.
There 7 cases in Geary; 8 cases in Canton; 2 cases in Longdale; 5 cases in Okeene, 0 in Hitchcock and 19 in Watonga. The cases are noted by zip code, so those ill may not live inside the city limits, just in the vicinity.
There are 8,702,750 cases cumulative reported nationally, up 66,784 since the last numbers were released by Johns Hopkins University. There have been 225,706 deaths, up 447 since last report. Active cases in the U.S. tally at 5,016,589 up 28,730 while recoveries stand at 3,460,455 up 37,577 since the last report was made.
You Can Vote Safely in Person Despite Coronavirus. Here's How.
Advance planning, early voting, and wearing a mask will minimize your risks
Consumerreports.org has outlined several key points for the public to understand about voting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although voting by mail or putting your ballot in a drop box remains the surest way to minimize exposure to COVID-19 while exercising your right as a citizen, many will choose to vote in person—either during the early voting period or on Election Day itself, Nov. 3.
If you are one of those people, what do you need to know to make the experience as safe as possible?
To start, understand that a lot depends on how closely local election officials follow safety recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, as well as state-level guidance.
Encouragingly, most are doing their part, says David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, a nonprofit in Washington, D.C. “I’ve talked to local election officials in many states, and we’re seeing a lot of protections being put in place,” he says.
Among them: Small polling places, where social distancing is harder, are being rejected in favor of larger—and in some cases very large—venues; poll workers are being trained to manage lines, minimize crowding, and disinfect surfaces; and facilities are being equipped with plexiglass shields, hand-sanitizer dispensers, disposable pens, and plenty of face masks.
But regardless of the protocols being used in any voting place, there are steps that all in-person voters can take to minimize their personal risk.