County reports 11th virus death

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County reports 11th virus death

Thu, 08/06/2020 - 14:05
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Kay County reported its 11th death due to COVID-19 on Wednesday morning, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The male was in the age 65 and over category.

Kay County also reported eight more positive COVID-19 tests on Wednesday, from 223 on Tuesday to 231 cases.

Ponca City had four of those cases with 188 reported on Tuesday and 192 on Wednesday.

Sixteen additional deaths were reported overnight, bringing the statewide death toll to 583.

The deaths were reported in Caddo County, Cleveland County, Grady County, McCurtain County, Payne County, Oklahoma County and Tulsa County.

Elsewhere in Oklahoma a total of 40,564 residents have tested positive for the virus, an increase of 1,101 from Tuesday.

The Oklahoma County jail reports that an inmate being treated for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, has died.

Clarence Steven Merrell, 65, died Tuesday at a hospital where he was taken in July, jail spokesman Mac Mullings said in a news release.

Merrell had been jailed since June 26 on felony drugrelated charges according to Mullings and court records.

On Monday, Tulsa Public Schools, the state’s second largest public school district, became the latest district in Oklahoma to opt for an online-only start to the school year because of the virus.

Tulsa students will spend the first nine weeks in distance learning and Superintendent Deborah Gis will recommend what type of teaching method will be used for the second quarter before the end of October, according to a statement from the district.

Tulsa Health Department Director Bruce Dart said he is pleased with the decision.

“We understand parents and students want to be back in a more social setting. We know that kids learn better with face to face instruction from their teachers,” Dart said in a statement. “We want to return to that as soon as circumstances allow, but we want to exercise an abundance of caution.”