Roger Mills County has continued to remain one of the few counties left in the state with no positive COVID-19 Cases.
As of Tuesday, April 14th, Beckham County and Dewey County have one case of the coronavirus, Custer County has 7, Caddo County has 10 and Greer County has seen the most in our area with 49 cases and 4 deaths. Ellis and Washita Counties have no cases.
There are 2,184 confirmed cases in the state and there have been 108 deaths due to the virus.
As of April 10th, there have been 26,085 cumulative negative specimens and 488 people have been hospitalized with the disease in Oklahoma. The majority of cases are female, 1,203 to men with 981, and most are in the 65+ age group. Testing capability is still limited by reagents and collection kits. Information about testing locations can be found at: https://coronavirus.health. ok.gov/drive-thru-testing Governor Stitt’s Executive Order 2020-13 (Signed April 8, 2020)
• Ensuring first responders such as correctional officers, law enforcement and fire personnel who work for state agencies will receive guaranteed paid time off if they contract COVID-19.
• Removes barriers that will allow more medical professionals to be on the front lines by encouraging licensing boards to ease requirements on physician assistants, nurse practitioners and retired physicians.
• Encourages the boards to increase opportunities for students and recent graduates who are not yet fully licensed to practice. • Allows closed health care facilities to be re-opened and remove regulatory burdens that would create lag time in getting bed space to treat patients.
• Allows stretcher vans and stretcher aid vans to assist with emergencies and operate anywhere in the state. The Governor Amended Executive Order 2020-07 Seventh Amended Executive Order 2020- 07 (Signed April 1, 2020)
• Closes all businesses not identified as being within a critical infrastructure sector, such as gyms, salons, massage parlors and movie theaters, where counties have community spread effective through April 30.
• Requires restaurants in all 77 counties to provide takeout and delivery options only and closes all bars through April 30.
• Postpones all elective surgeries, minor medical procedures and non-emergency dental procedures until April 30.
• Issues a statewide “Safer at Home” order for adults over the age of 65 and vulnerable individuals with serious underlying medical conditions until April 30.
• Prohibits visitations to nursing homes and long-term care facilities through April 30.
• Limits gatherings to no more than 10 people through April 30.
Sixth Amended Executive Order 2020-07 (Signed March 29, 2020)
• Orders mandatory quarantine (14 days) for travelers from six states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Louisiana and Washington.
• Protects health care workers and their families from discrimination related to housing or child care. Fifth Amended Executive Order 2020-07 (Signed March 28, 2020)
• Moratorium on statepaid out of state travel.
• Relaxes statutory requirements for completing training to become a certified peace officer for the duration of the emergency and for thirty days after the emergency is declared to be over.
• Waives any requirements that county reserve deputies, municipal reserve officers or other duly appointed reserve peace officers in Oklahoma be CLEET-certified prior to serving in an individual capacity or be accompanied by a CLEET-certified peace officer prior to becoming CLEET-certified for the duration of the emergency and for thirty days after the emergency is declared to be over.
Individual responsibility cannot be overstated. Your local county health departments and community partners have been preparing for public health emergencies like COVID-19 for many years. There are plans in place to vaccinate, medicate and/or test a large number of people in a short timeframe. When/If it is time and resources are available, the plans will be activated and communities will be notified of the appropriate steps to take. Businesses, community and faith-based organizations, schools, and health-care systems should be examining their preparedness plans to make sure they are ready for the reduction in services and/or employees due to illness. Strong community partnerships between local health departments, the health care sector, faithbased organizations, and other community partners are vital for this response. Businesses are to encourage staff to telework (when feasible), particularly individuals at increased risk. Increase physical space between workers at the worksite. Limit work-related gatherings (staff meetings, lunches, etc.). Cancel non-essential work travel. Screen employees and visitors for symptoms. Consider offering video/audio of events For more information, visit coronavirus.health.ok.gov