CV)--Two new virus-related deaths and 510 new coronavirus cases were reported in the state since Sunday, according to daily numbers released late this morning by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. A total of 20,745 Oklahomans have tested positive for COVID-19 and the total number of deaths is up to 424. A total of 2,063 Oklahomans have been hospitalized due to the virus with 499 patients currently in the hospital.

 

There have been 108 positive COVID-19 cases, and two deaths in Garfield County. 101 of those cases have been in Enid. In surrounding counties: Noble has reported 53 cases, Kingfisher County has reported 46 cases, Blaine County is at 22 cases, Major 14, Grant 3, and Alfalfa 1.

 

COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results

07.13.20

 

Confirmed Positive Cases	20,745
*Total Cumulative Negative Specimens to Date (As of 7/10/20)	400,037
*Total Cumulative Number of Specimens to Date (As of 7/10/20)	423,285
*Currently Hospitalized (As of 7/10/20)	499
Total Cumulative Hospitalizations	2,063
Deaths in the Past 24 hours	0
Total Cumulative Deaths	424

 

*The total includes laboratory information provided to OSDH at the time of the report. Total counts may not reflect unique individuals. Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health. As of 2020-07-13 at 7:00 a.m.

 

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YC)--The Denny Price Family YMCA of Enid closed Friday for deep cleaning and disinfecting after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. The facility reopened Saturday. A statement on its Facebook page read in part, “Regrettably, we learned on Thursday, July 9 that a staff member of our Y has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (coronavirus). He/she is currently receiving treatment for his/her condition.  Upon learning of this, we immediately executed our COVID response protocol. We will continue to work with the health department and local physicians to determine what other actions, if any, would be prudent on our part.”

 

The statement said the staff member was in the facility from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Friday in the fitness area and from 7:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in the fitness area and group exercise studio. “If you believe you may have come in contact with this individual, please take the necessary precautions,” according to the statement. “If you develop COVID-19 symptoms as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which could include fever, cough or shortness of breath, please stay home, and speak to your healthcare provider.”

 

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CC)--The Enid City Commission will consider making masks mandatory in public as well as other actions related to the COVID-19 pandemic during a special meeting Wednesday. City Manager Jerald Gilbert said Commissioners will hear from health and medical officials, as well as the public, to discuss and determine whether to mandate or recommend masks in public; require bar and restaurant staff to wear masks; and limit gathering sizes, among other actions. Open to the public, Enid's special meeting will be held at 5:00 Wednesday afternoon in the City Administration Building’s Council Chambers, as well as via Zoom. Like all city meetings since the pandemic reopening, forehead temperatures will be taken outside the room. An agenda for the meeting and the Zoom code will be announced by Tuesday afternoon.

 

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SD)--At least one person in the area was injured during Saturday night's storms. There were multiple reports of hail and wind damage in a number of communities across the area. One of the hardest hit was Goltry in Southern Alfalfa County. One person was severely injured, according to a report. No additional details were given. The storms uprooted trees and damaged homes. One landmark building in Goltry, The Farm Bar, was destroyed by strong winds.

 

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VM)--The annual meeting of the Enid Regional Development Alliance on Thursday will be a virtual one, over Zoom. Everything else will be normal, with an ERDA update, a vote by members on the Board of Directors, and a Keynote presentation from Chris Schwinden, Senior Vice-President of Site Selection Group. An RSVP is required to attend the meeting. For more information, contact the ERDA.

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JM)--Members of the Garfield County Criminal Justice Authority met last week and voted to create an overcrowding committee and a position at the county jail for a mental health professional. According to Enid News and Eagle, Jail Administrator Ben Crooks said since June 16, two employees had left the jail, which currently has 50 employees. He said they are close to fully staffing the need positions. Crooks said there were 11 inmates at the jail on suicide watch, which he explained included anyone ever says to us ‘I feel like I am going to commit suicide, or ‘I should commit suicide’ or make any mention of suicide. He said once placed on suicide watch, the inmate is observed 24 hours a day and an alarm sounds every 15 minutes, with the jailer checking on the inmate and signing a log. Crooks said mental health problems were increasing at jails as more mental health facilities are closed. Research continues on the mental health staff position. Crooks suggested an overcrowding committee be formed to address inmate population at the jail when it reached 80% capacity or more. He said the committee would include a judicial representative, local police departments, the sheriff’s office, a member of the district attorney’s office, a defense attorney, the jail administrator and a member of the public.

 

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WF)--The City of Enid taking nominations for the 2020 “Walk of Fame” Award to be presented in September during the celebration of the Cherokee Strip Days. The Walk of Fame is given to individuals that have made significant contributions to the Enid community. To be considered for the Walk of Fame, a person shall:

*Have demonstrated a lifetime of service to the community in general; or

*Have made an extraordinary contribution or act of selflessness or statesmanship for Enid.

Nominations will be accepted in the office of the City Clerk until 5:00 p.m. July 15.

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AS)--The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has launched a new COVID-19 alert system that offers the public and local elected officials a clear method to recognize and communicate the current COVID-19 risk level in each county and to guide health behaviors. The Oklahoma COVID-19 Alert System is a four-tiered risk measurement tool with corresponding color categories that identify the current COVID-19 risk level by county. Each color category is based on daily new cases per 100,000 population. The color-coded county map will be updated every Friday as part of the agency’s Situation Media Advisory and will be based on the 7-day rolling average:

 

• Green: 0 < 1.43 daily new cases per 100,000 population
• Yellow: 43 < 14.39 daily new cases per 100,000 population
• Orange: > 14.39 daily new cases per 100,000 population
• Red: > 14.39 daily new cases per 100,000 plus one of four additional gates triggered

OSDH will deem a county as in a high-risk phase if the county is reporting more than 14.39 daily new cases per 100,000 and one or more of the four thresholds occur in the State within a given week.  

• Statewide ICU threshold: Percent of ICU beds available <5% statewide
• Statewide Medical/Surgical threshold: Percent of medical surgery beds available <5% statewide
• Statewide Ventilator threshold: Percent of ventilators available <5% statewide
• Facility PPE threshold: Average days of PPE on hand and available < 5 days statewide

The State will work with local officials in red counties on a remediation plan. The red phase is triggered when additionally assessing statewide health system capacity definitions, assumptions and plans in the Oklahoma Hospital Surge Planning Toolkit and with assessing numbers based on hospitals’ bed capacity at 100%. This status indicates statewide, systemic challenges and pressures on the healthcare system resulting from COVID-19. This new alert system is subject to further revisions. Guidance for each risk category is available for individuals, businesses, high-risk individuals, and children on the COVID-19 dashboard at coronavirus.health.ok.gov.

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LB)--The Enid Public Library, in partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and Loaves & Fishes, will be offering Lunch Bunch each week, Monday through Friday through August 14. Lunches will be served from noon to 1:00 p.m. behind Mercy House (located at 1714 S 4th Street) to anyone up to 18 years old. For more information about this and other programs, visit the library’s website at enid.okpls.org. The Enid Public library is located at 120 W Maine, Enid, OK 73701.

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FF)--Senior and low-income residents in the Enid area can receive free electric box fans thanks to a partnership between OG&E, RSVP of Enid, United Way of Enid & Northwest Oklahoma, The Salvation Army of Enid and Stride Bank. Christy Baker, Executive Director of RSVP of Enid said, the partnerships will allow 250 fans to be dispersed to the homes of the area’s most vulnerable

.

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