Ponca City has two additional confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to figures released on Friday by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Ponca City now has 127 confirmed cases. Kay County has 14 additional cases.

As of Friday morning a total of 24,140 Oklahomans have tested positive for the virus, an increase of 699 from Thursday. Additionally, seven more people have died in Oklahoma, bringing the number to 445. Kay County has nine of those deaths.

The total cumulative hospitalizations related to COVID-19 stands at 2,289 with 604 currently hospitalized. Another 440,904 Oklahomans have tested negative.

Interim commissioner Lance Frye unveiled a new COVID-19 alert system on July 9. This four-color, county-by-county alert system was build using the White House’s methodology model for new cases per 100,000 population, and it adds an additional color criteria with the “orange” risk category.

This week, 15 additional counties moved into the “orange” zone risk. While no counties are in the red zone, OSDH continues to monitor closely the statewide hospitalization trends for COVID-19.

The new figures released on Friday show that Kay County is listed in the yellow category with 5.82 cases per 100,000 people.

Continue to follow these simple steps to protect yourself and those around you during the COVID-19 pandemic:

— Continue to practice physical distancing

— Practice handwashing and other personal and environmental hygiene measures

— Wear a close face covering when in public settings where physical distancing measures are difficult to maintain

— Individuals who are sick should selfisolate from the public and others and get tested for COVID-19

County health departments provide free curbside COVID-19 testing by appointment only.