The latest news on COVID in Oklahoma

Editor’s Note: March 10, 2022 at 2:22 p.m.

On March 10, 2020, the cancellation of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz basketball sport signaled the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic for a lot of of us. Now, two years to the day, KOSU has determined to sundown this COVID updates liveblog.

Our resolution concerned two important components:

Recent steering from the CDC
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new COVID metrics.The company’s steering focuses on COVID-19 neighborhood ranges, that are decided by the variety of the brand new admissions and inpatient beds occupied metrics, primarily based on the present stage of recent instances per 100,000 inhabitants in the previous seven days. The purpose right here is to extra precisely monitor the quantity of extreme COVID-19 illness throughout the neighborhood and pressure on the healthcare system.

A change in reporting from the Oklahoma State Department of Health
Earlier this week, OSDH pointed to the CDC steering in announcing it would discontinue its daily situation updates that monitor the COVID day by day case counts. Instead, the company will launch knowledge on Thursdays. This new weekly report additionally exhibits a change in how OSDH reviews case counts, opting to solely embody spicements collected and reported in the week’s time interval in calculating the seven-day common. Previously, the seven-day common included delayed case counts. The new weekly report can also be not consultant of the previous seven days, quite the earlier Sunday-Saturday week.

For the previous two years, KOSU has been protecting day by day case and dying counts and a continuous barrage of COVID-related news.

KOSU will proceed to watch case counts, hospital reviews, dying counts and immunization reviews and report on them when mandatory. We can even proceed to report on the pandemic past simply the numbers.

Official state knowledge on COVID-19 can be found here and the latest KOSU and NPR reporting on the pandemic could be discovered right here.

Thank you for your continued support.

Coronavirus updates: final report March 7, 2022:

OSDH makes modifications to COVID knowledge reporting

Updated March 7 at 3:40 p.m.

On Monday, March 7, 2022 the Oklahoma State Department of Health announced it will discontinue its day by day state of affairs updates that monitor the COVID day by day case counts. Instead, OSDH will launch knowledge on Thursdays. The weekly epidemiology report can even proceed and can be launched on Thursdays as properly.

49 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated March 3 at 12:14 p.m.

49 further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Friday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 14,835.

1,113 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 1,024,471 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped to about 710 per day.

Just 56.1 p.c of Oklahoma’s inhabitants is absolutely vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, putting Oklahoma in the underside 14 states for vaccine rollout.

56 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated March 2 at 11:21 a.m.

56 further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Thursday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 14,786.

589 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 1,023,358 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped to about 720 per day.

56 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated March 2 at 12:13 p.m.

56 further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Wednesday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 14,730.

920 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 1,022,769 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped to about 830 per day.

Just 56 p.c of Oklahoma’s inhabitants is absolutely vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, putting Oklahoma in the underside 14 states for vaccine rollout.

62 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated March 1 at 12:05 p.m.

62 further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Tuesday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 14,674.

254 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 1,021,849 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped to about 845 per day.

Oklahoma City Public Schools drops masks mandate

Updated February 28 at 3:46 p.m.

For the primary time because the starting of the tutorial 12 months, Oklahoma City Public Schools introduced it will carry its masking requirement starting Tuesday, March 1.

OKCPS had instituted a masks requirement that allowed college students to choose out, however fewer than one p.c had executed in order of final fall.

At the time, the district stated it discovered a loophole in Senate Bill 658, which says faculty boards can’t require masks. Instead, superintendent Sean McDaniel took it upon himself to implement one. The transfer was endorsed by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Since then, SB 658’s ban on masks mandates was paused after a choose’s injunction and stays paused at the moment.

But, in an announcement to college students, dad and mom and employees, McDaniel wrote that solely two staffers and 4 college students at the moment have the coronavirus and the Oklahoma City-County Health Department supported the choice.

The transfer comes after the CDC changed its in-school guidance, saying masks mandates have been now not mandatory if case counts weren’t excessive in an space. In the announcement of the coverage, Superintendent Shawn McDaniel says solely two staffers and 4 college students had energetic instances of the coronavirus as of February 28.

The district stated that plans may change, and masking guidelines may return in place if instances rose. In the meantime, the district stated it will hold the next mitigation measures in place:

• OKCPS will proceed monitoring knowledge, monitoring and amassing self-reported optimistic COVID-19 instances for college kids and employees. This consists of our weekly report of optimistic instances on the district’s website.
• OKCPS will proceed to require anybody who exams optimistic for COVID-19 to isolate for five days, no matter vaccination standing. 
• OKCPS will proceed with our enhanced cleansing and disinfection protocols. 
• OKCPS will proceed practising social distancing to the best extent potential. Staff are inspired to conduct enterprise by cellphone, e-mail or digital assembly if potential. 
• OKCPS will proceed to make masks accessible to college students, employees and guests in any respect district websites. 
• OKCPS will proceed to supply free COVID-19 testing for college kids and employees. To schedule an appointment, please contact your little one’s faculty or go to our website. 
• OKCPS will proceed working with our companions to schedule further COVID-19 vaccine clinics. We’ll share that information with you as quickly because it’s accessible. In the meantime, those that have an interest can find a vaccine web site by visiting www.vaxokc.com. 
• OKCPS will proceed to anticipate households to maintain kids house from faculty if they’re sick and, likewise, will proceed to anticipate staff to not report back to work if they’re unwell.

71 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated February 28 at 11:33 a.m.

71 further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Monday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 14,612.

224 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 1,021,595 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped to about 870 per day.

Four new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated February 25 at 11:18 a.m.

Four further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Friday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 14,541.

1,161 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 1,019,489 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances remained at about 880 per day.

49 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated February 24 at 11:30 a.m.

49 further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Thursday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 14,537.

1,383 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 1,018,328 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped once more to 880 per day.

Just 55.9 p.c of Oklahoma’s inhabitants is absolutely vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, putting Oklahoma in the underside 14 states for vaccine rollout.

63 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated February 23 at 12:24 p.m.

63 further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Wednesday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 14,488.

1,010 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 1,016,945 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped once more to 913 per day.

202 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated February 22 at 11:32 a.m.

202 further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Tuesday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 14,425.

This is the primary day Oklahoma State Department of Health has supplied up to date COVID knowledge since Friday.

409 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 1,015,935 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped once more to 918 per day.

No COVID replace since Friday

Updated February 21 at 2:32 p.m.

In observance of Presidents’ Day, the Oklahoma State Department of Health didn’t present up to date COVID knowledge on Monday. It additionally didn’t report any knowledge this weekend.

55.8 p.c of Oklahoma’s inhabitants is absolutely vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, putting Oklahoma in the underside 14 states for vaccine rollout.

22 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated February 18 at 11:36 a.m.

22 further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Friday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 14,223.

1,119 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 1,013,287 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped once more to 1,128 per day.

49 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated February 17 at 11:49 a.m.

49 further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Thursday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 14,201.

1,614 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 1,012,168 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped once more to 1,287 per day.

Just 55.7 p.c of Oklahoma’s inhabitants is absolutely vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, putting Oklahoma in the underside 14 states for vaccine rollout.

‘There’s going to be an actual blip:’ Medical professionals are involved about delayed routine screenings and their long-term results

Updated February 17 at 4:00 a.m.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic and its surges, Oklahomans have struggled to search out open hospital beds, to schedule pressing care appointments and have seen their surgical procedures moved again. Those entry points trickle all the way down to even essentially the most routine appointments.

73 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated February 16 at 2:32 p.m.

73 further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Wednesday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 14,152.

1,047 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 1,010,554 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped once more to 1,439 per day.

23 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated February 15 at 1:29 p.m.

23 further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Tuesday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 14,079.

378 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 1,009,507 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped once more to 1,534 per day.

Just 55.6 p.c of Oklahoma’s inhabitants is absolutely vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, putting Oklahoma in the underside 14 states for vaccine rollout.

209 new deaths have been reported in Oklahoma on Monday

Updated February 14 at 8:48 p.m.

209 new deaths have been reported in Oklahoma Monday, because the state’s provisional dying rely now stands at 14,056.

The well being division additionally reported 760 new instances of the coronavirus Monday. The company additionally reviews there have been 1,009,129 COVID-19 instances since March 2020.

The state’s 7-day common in new coronavirus instances is now 1,621 new instances per day.

17 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma on Saturday

Updated February 14 at 8:23 a.m.

17 new deaths have been reported in Oklahoma Saturday, because the state’s provisional dying rely now stands at 13,847.

The well being division additionally reported 1,458 new instances of the coronavirus, for a complete of 1,006,846 since March 2020.

The state’s 7-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped to 1,614 per day.

No new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated February 11 at 11:20 a.m.

No new deaths have been reported in Oklahoma on Friday – because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stays at 13,830.

The state well being division reported 2,230 new instances of the coronavirus, for a complete of 1,005,388 since March 2020.

The state’s 7-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped once more to 1,779 per day.

72 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated February 10 at 11:16 a.m.

72 further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Thursday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 13,830.

2,678 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 1,003,158 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped once more to 2,138 per day.

Just 55.4 p.c of Oklahoma’s inhabitants is absolutely vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, putting Oklahoma in the underside 13 states for vaccine rollout.

Audit finds Oklahoma State Department of Health misspent hundreds of thousands, probably violated state legal guidelines

Updated February 9 at 7:33 p.m.

Oklahoma’s state auditor independently launched her workplace’s investigation into the state division of well being, which discovered it might need damaged the legislation in its race to safe PPE at first of the pandemic.

State Auditor Cindy Byrd revealed the audit Wednesday, after a information request from news nonprofit The Frontier. Her workplace accomplished and delivered the audit to the lawyer common’s workplace in May 2021. It is typical protocol for the auditor to submit findings to the lawyer common, who then decides whether or not these findings can be made public. Attorney General John O’Connor’s workplace has so far declined to launch these findings.

Byrd stated in a launch on Wednesday that, after reviewing state legislation with exterior counsel, she felt assured her workplace does have the authorized authority to launch the nine-month-old audit on its personal — with out approval from O’Connor’s workplace.

86 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated February 9 at 11:19 a.m.

86 further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Wednesday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 13,758.

1,711 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 1,000,480 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped once more to 2,465 per day.

78 new COVID deaths reported in Oklahoma

Updated February 8 at 11:29 a.m.

78 further deaths have been confirmed in Oklahoma on Tuesday, because the state’s Provisional Death Count, which displays COVID-19 deaths primarily based on dying certificates, stands at 13,672.

986 new coronavirus infections have been additionally reported, for a complete of 998,769 since March 2020.

The state’s seven-day common in new coronavirus instances dropped once more to 2,876 per day.

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Find all of KOSU’s protection of the coronavirus in Oklahoma right here.