As of 11 a.m. April 21, there are a reported 2,807 confirmed positive cases of Covid-19 in Oklahoma, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. There have been five deaths in the past 24 hours, and an additional 16 reported who passed between April 14-19. This brings the death count to 164 statewide.
During his press conference last week, Gov. Kevin Stitt indicated he believes the curve is flattening, but no one should become complacent. The peak of cases reported – the so-called surge - has been estimated to hit April 30 with the date varying depending on the model employed. It has been scaled back to expect only a need for 850 beds.
“But we are ready for a worse-case scenario,” Stitt said.
Blaine County remains free of any reported confirmed cases of the virus, as do eight other counties: Cimarron, Coal, Ellis, Harmon, Hughes, Pushmataha, Roger Mills and Washita
There are some 80 test sites open statewide, many of them drive through or curbside at local healthcare facilities or county health departments. Again this week there will be curbside testing at the Blaine County Health Department by appointment only. Those appointments may be made by calling (580) 623- 7977. Testing parameters are still in place and the patient must meet at least one standard for testing. There is no fee for the tests.
The governor is edging toward a slow reopening of the state beginning with nonemergency and elective surgeries and dental procedures which may begin as early as April 24. Other non-essential services such as hair salons and nail technicians are anticipated to have limited openings by early May and the state government is looking for ways to safely reopen restaurants and other establishments, guided by science, statistics on cases in the state and input from both the Centers for Disease Control and the White House.
Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com