State numbers pass 36,000 cases

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State numbers pass 36,000 cases

Sat, 08/01/2020 - 13:45
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A total of 747 new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Friday morning, according to daily filings from the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The number of cases stands at 36,487, up from 35,740 on Thursday.

Kay County reports two more positive test results, bringing the current number of positive cases in the county to 207. Ponca City has 179 of those cases with 135 recoveries.

A total of 10 people in Kay County have died from the virus and another 526 in the state.

Officials warn the true number of cases in Oklahoma is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.

The department reported 621 people hospitalized either with the virus or under investigation for infection, down from 647 hospitalizations on Thursday.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday said he is allocating $10 million dollars from federal funding the state received to address the coronavirus to provide personal protective equipment to schools as he encourages them to reopen for in-person classes.

“We will be providing 1.7 million reusable masks, that’s two per teacher and two per student, 42,000 clear face shields, 1.2 million pairs of disposable gloves and 1.2 million disposable gowns,” to public schools statewide by Aug. 14, Stitt said.

Stitt said he wants schools, which were shut down for in-person classrooms in March, to bring students back to class.

“Our kids have been playing youth sports, doing other activities throughout this entire summer,” since the state began reopening in April, Stitt said. “Online instruction does not reduce the chance of exposure outside the classroom, if schools do not open in person it is not feasible to think that students and teachers will stay home and will not come in contact with anyone else.”

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State numbers pass 36,000 cases