PR)--Enid Mayor George Pankonin announced Tuesday that the Three-Phased Plan for reopening Enid’s economy has been amended to allow church nurseries and bars to reopen this Friday. The amended plan allows for the following:
- Bars may open on May 15, 2020 and must follow the Employer Guidance for Oklahoma’s Open Up and Recover Safely (OURS) plan for bars.
- Children are no longer restricted from church nurseries. Church nurseries are allowed to reopen and there is no longer a requirement to keep children with families in church.
The mayor said, “Following through with our promise, we are loosening our previous restrictions effective this Friday May 15th. Public weddings and funerals with more than 10 total participants will be allowed and outdoor graduations may resume. Bars may be opened for business. They will need to follow the Employer Guidance for Oklahoma’s Open Up and Recover Safely Plan for Bars. This is consistent with Governor Stitt’s state-wide plan.” The new emergency declaration replaces all former declarations. The ratification of the amended emergency declaration and three-phased plan is scheduled to be on the May 19th Mayor and Board of Commissioners meeting agenda. The other phases of the plan will continue as dated: Phase 2: June 1, 2020 and Phase 3: July 1, 2020.
The mayor’s message and three-phased plan document can be found on the city website at: www.Enid.org/coronavirus. To stay updated with City information regarding COVID-19, residents should access the city website regularly at: www.Enid.org/coronavirus or on social media at: Facebook.com/cityofenidoklahoma.
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SO)--Thursday will now be the last day of school for Enid Public Schools students. May 21 originally was the last day of the 2019-20 school year. That day will be the date for Enid High School’s virtual graduation ceremony, set for 7:30 p.m.
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CV)--120 more confirmed coronavirus cases but no new virus-related deaths were reported in Oklahoma since Tuesday, according to a report released late this morning by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. A total of 4,852 Oklahomans have tested positive for COVID-19 and the total number of virus-related deaths stayed steady at 278.
The number of confirmed cases in Garfield County remained at 21 (20 in Enid) in today’s report. There has been one death in Garfield County, an 86 year-old woman in early April. In the latest report Kingfisher County remains at nine confirmed cases, Major County has reported six cases with one death, Grant County has two confirmed cases, and Alfalfa County has reported one.
COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results
05.13.20
|
Confirmed Positive Cases |
4,852 |
|
Total Cumulative Negative Specimens to Date |
104,275 |
|
Total Cumulative Number of Specimens to Date |
109,859 |
|
Currently Hospitalized |
218 |
|
Total Cumulative Hospitalizations |
848 |
|
Deaths in the Past 24 hours |
0 |
|
**Total Cumulative Deaths |
278 |
**Monday's total deaths of 274 was overstated by one. Five deaths reported yesterday brings today's death total to 278.
Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health.
As of 2020-05-13 at 7:00 a.m.
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PB)--The Enid Park and Recreation Board is recommending the city keep Champlin Pool and its two splash pads closed for the summer because of excessive maintenance needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Should the pool, at 400 W. Cherokee, reopen as scheduled for the season, it would be limited to a fourth of the pool's total capacity, or 100 people. Swimmers would have to exit the pool every 30 minutes, then staff would clean and reopen the pool area, meaning the pool would be open for five and a half hours, with visitors able to swim for three, Haley said. Face masks would be mandatory for anyone not in the water, including lifeguards. The Park Board then passed motions to keep the pool and splash pads closed, under current guidelines and restrictions. City Manager Jerald Gilbert will make the determination about the pool and splash pad closures later this month.
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- 2506 Old Post Road
- 1906 Hunters Hill Drive
- The closure is expected to last approximately two weeks. Motorists are encouraged to follow posted traffic control signs and to drive with caution in this area during the construction effort. Residents can sign up for mobile app notifications to get communication about road construction, trash schedules, holiday closings, water outages, and other important events by going to: Enid.org/RequestCenter or by downloading the SeeClickFix app.
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LF)--Loaves & Fishes will continue its drive-through food distributions through June, and has changed the service hours for Thursdays. The food resource center, at 701 E. Maine, went to a drive-through service of pre-boxed food, instead of the usual assisted shopping service, in March due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. Lydia Kelley, Loaves & Fishes executive director, announced this week the drive-through service will continue at least through June, since social distancing cannot be maintained in the center's waiting room. At the end of June, the Loaves & Fishes board reevaluate the potential to resume client-choice pantry services. Kelley also announced changes to the drive-through service hours. Service still will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesdays will remain at 3:00-6:00 p.m., but Thursday hours, effective this week, are moving to 9:00 a.m. to noon. To receive food, clients need to bring a photo ID and proof of residency in the service area. They also need to have IDs and/or documentation for each person living in the household. Information about documentation needed can be found on the organization’s website at www.loaves andfishesnwok.org. If you are able to volunteer, call Loaves & Fishes at (580) 540-9830.
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BH)—Enid City Commissioners have been told during budget hearings the city has built in a decrease in revenue into its budget plan for the 2020-21 fiscal year. The city has budgeted a 10% decrease in sales tax revenue, nearly $2 million less in water revenue and $405,000 less in police fines, Sales tax revenue for the 2020-21 fiscal year was budgeted at about $32.6 million, a decrease of about $3.6 million from fiscal year 2019-20. Commissioners will have another special budget hearing Thursday to continue to go over budgets for additional individual departments. The overall budget commissioners are expected to approve in their meeting May 19 calls for about $156.5 million in revenue, with spending set at about $163 million. The roughly $6.26 million deficit will be made up by fund balances that have built up over the years in several areas.
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DT)--The annual Picnic for Progress drug take back and safety day is set for 3:00-6:00 p.m. May 16 at Champion Park, with some modifications this year due to the coronavirus. Each year the Austin Box “12” Foundation hosts the event at Champion Park, at 10th and Chestnut, to promote the safe use, storage and disposal of prescription drugs, needles and other “sharps.” Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs will be accepting any drugs that need to be safely disposed. They also will accept used and unused needles, syringes and lancets stored in a puncture-proof container. Social distancing will be maintained throughout the take-back, which will strictly be a drive-through or walk-up event. There will not be a traditional picnic, due to coronavirus prevention needs, but free hot dogs will be served on a to-go basis to all who come through. Hot dogs will be served courtesy of Salvation Army of Enid. Each person who comes to the event also will receive a free mask and hand sanitizer, while supplies last. For more information on the Austin Box “12” Foundation and its work to prevent drug misuse and overdose, visit https://www.austinbox12foundation.com.
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VS)--Oklahoma Blood Institute is looking for plasma donors who have recovered from COVID-19 in hopes of treating patients who have contracted the virus. The experimental effort will be used to "treat seriously ill patients," according to OBI officials. "By creating the only statewide registry of available patients, Oklahoma Blood Institute can ensure local patients receive the donated products and have the best possible chance at fighting the illness," according to a press release. Donors are asked to sign up for Oklahoma’s registry at https://mobile.bio-linked.org. Bio-Linked allows users to submit confidential health and social information via a secure site and to list themselves as potential volunteers for medical research. Once qualified, plasma will be drawn at hospital partner sites, with each donor providing up to three therapeutic plasma doses. To provide convalescent plasma, donors must be eligible to donate blood and meet the criteria below:
• Prior diagnosis of COVID-19, documented by a laboratory test;
• Present negative results for COVID-19;
• Symptom-free for 14 days prior to donation.
• If female, either no history of pregnancy or negative for HLA (tissue typing) antibodies.
Complete information on donor eligibility from the FDA is available at https://tinyurl.com/FDA-OBI-COVID19.
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GS)--In a salute to the Class of 2020, Enid High School is displaying individual senior photos on its own yard sign along the sidewalk outside Enid High School. The 365+ photos were installed as a way to recognize the graduating seniors, whose final semester has been sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic. Photos were provided from yearbook portraits, so not all of the seniors’ photos have been placed. 400 EHS seniors will graduate during Enid High’s virtual ceremony set for May 21. The event will be broadcast on Enid Television Network, YouTube TV and Facebook Live. Enid High School also has an in-person graduation ceremony tentatively scheduled for June 18 at D. Bruce Selby Stadium, or at Chisholm Trail Expo Center should inclement weather occur. A third option has an in-person ceremony set for July 30.
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CO)--Northern Oklahoma College is planning to open all of its locations beginning July 1, officials said. NOC does plan to have in-person classes in the fall. NOC campuses have been closed since March 30 due to COVID-19 outbreak. Officials said they are working on plans to ensure the safety and well-being of the campus community. More detailed plans on classes, campus housing, activities and events will be shared later in the summer. Most college employees will conclude teleworking and return to work June 1, following social distancing and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The plan aligns with phase three of the state’s reopening date for all workplaces while also considering the needs of vulnerable populations. NOC locations will continue to be closed to the public through June 30, but can be accessed by appointment with NOC employees, if necessary. Summer courses are being held this summer via online. Students are encouraged to enroll for the summer or fall semester either by contacting their advisors or by contacting NOC Enrollment Management at (580) 628-6220 (Tonkawa), (580) 548-2275 (Enid) or (580) 628-6910 (Stillwater).
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PN)--Nominations are being accepted for Enid Young Professionals' ninth annual 10 Under 40 event. The event recognizes the top 10 Enid community members under the age of 40. Nominations are due by June 26. Forms are available online at enidyp.com. Nominees are expected to demonstrate qualities of a well-rounded individual, including professional and community aspects. The awards luncheon, where the winners will be announced, will be Aug. 25 in the Stride Bank Center Grand Ballroom.
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MH)--Youth & Family Services of North Central Oklahoma is offering a free mental health helpline to help people through the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the social isolation that comes with it. "During the COVID-19 crisis, many people may find themselves on edge," said Tree Perkins, Youth and Family's director of development. "Routines have changed, children are home from school, families are cooped up, and many have or will experience job loss. With all of these worries looming, we know that this can be scary and overwhelming time." With help from a grant from United Way of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma, Youth & Family Services is offering the free helpline for "those who may be experiencing anxiety, sadness, fear, or perhaps just a need to hear a friendly voice," Perkins said. Anyone in need can call the helpline at (866) 324-2085. The helpline will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. If the helpline goes to voicemail, callers should leave a message with their name and phone number, and Youth & Family will call them back as soon as possible.
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