CV)—St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center reported the death of a patient who had tested positive for COVID-19 today, while the state Health Department confirmed 377 new COVID-19 cases in Oklahoma, seven of those in Garfield County. Officially, the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported today one death associated with the virus in the past 24 hours, a Pottawatomie County man in the 65 and older age group. The deaths of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 are reported by health care facilities and then must be confirmed through the Oklahoma State Department of Health as being associated with COVID-19, a process that sometimes takes days. A total of 38,602 Oklahomans have tested positive for COVID-19 and the total number of deaths went up to 551. A total of 3,275 Oklahomans have been hospitalized due to the virus with 628 patients currently in the hospital.
There have been 372 positive COVID-19 cases, and four deaths in Garfield County. 347 of those cases have been in Enid. In surrounding counties: Noble has reported 77 cases, Kingfisher County has reported 111 cases, Blaine County is at 38 cases, Major 25, Grant 12, and Alfalfa 3.
COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results
08.03.20
|
Confirmed Positive Cases |
38,602 |
|
*Total Cumulative Negative Specimens to Date (As of 8/3) |
599,461 |
|
*Total Cumulative Number of Specimens to Date (As of 8/3) |
644,042 |
|
*Currently Hospitalized (As of 8/3) |
628 |
|
Total Cumulative Hospitalizations |
3,275 |
|
Identified Deaths in the Past 24 hours |
1 |
|
Total Cumulative Deaths |
551 |
*The total includes laboratory information provided to OSDH at the time of the report. Total counts may not reflect unique individuals. As of 2020-08-03 at 7:00 a.m.
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PS)--Due to the COVID 19 Safety Protocol put out by the Oklahoma State Department of Health and adopted by the Enid Public School Board of Education, Garfield County’s current Orange Level 1 states that alternate schedules or distance learning is strongly recommended. Enid Public Schools has opted to go to an alternate A/B Schedule (while in Orange Level 1) to reduce the number of individuals in school buildings and ensure the opportunity for greater social distancing. In this scenario, students will only attend school in person on their assigned days. Starting school with an A/B schedule allows the district to accomplish the following:
· Reduce by half the number of students in school buildings and on buses to better ensure social distancing.
· Keep class sizes more manageable for teachers who will have numerous new procedures and safety precautions to learn and execute.
· Ensure time in the classroom for students to collaborate face-to-face on projects and lab activities.
· Provide elementary students crucial face-to-face instruction on the new learning management system appropriate to their grade level.
An A/B schedule involves splitting each school site’s student population into an A and B group. The initial split will be those students with the last name A-L being on the A schedule and M-Z on the B schedule. Due to the impossibility of equalizing all classes at all grade levels based on this one criteria, it will be imperative that building level administrators have the discretion to adjust the initial placement if needed. Attention will be given to ensure students from the same family/household are assigned the same days. As it stands right now, for the first two days of school, Thursday, August 13th, will be A day and Friday, August 14th, will be a B day. The new OSDH numbers come out each Friday, and EPS will send out updated parent notifications by the end of the day on Fridays (for the following week). If on Friday, August 7, Garfield County reverts back to the Yellow Level, students will attend in person on August 13 and 14 (no alternate schedule if we are in the Yellow Level). If Garfield County remains in Orange Level 1 on Friday, August 14th, the weekly A/B alternative schedule will be:
Group A
Monday and Tuesday In person, at school
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Remote Learning
Group B
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Remote Learning
Thursday and Friday In person, at school
You can find a map of Oklahoma counties that is updated to reflect COVID-19 cases every Friday at https://coronavirus.health.ok.gov/covid-19-alert-system. You will also find definitions of what the different levels mean with additional resources. EPS will continue to update families weekly on any changes reported from the OSDH.
--00-- 03 Aug 20 4p
CC)--Enid City Commissioner on Tuesday will consider approving a proposed emergency declaration directing the city of Enid to adopt the Oklahoma Department of Health’s color-coded, four-tiered COVID-19 alert system. The declaration, proposed by Ward 3 City Commissioner Ben Ezzell, recommends specific precautions, guidelines and violations at each OSDH phase for individuals, businesses and those at high risk of infection. It also includes a public mask mandate when social distancing is not possible for those not at risk nor exempted due to health concerns. If approved, the declaration would go into effect beginning 5:00 p.m. Friday. Tuesday’s meeting will be held in the Grand Ballroom of Convention Hall beginning with a Study Session at 5:00 p.m. and the meeting at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be open to the public and can be viewed on the City of Enid Facebook page.
According to the proposed declaration, in the current orange phase, individuals shall:
• Engage in social distancing — staying 6 feet minimum apart when possible, keeping hands clean, staying home when sick, and using cloth face coverings in public settings when other measures are difficult to maintain;
• Practice symptom checks prior to team sport competitions or practices;
• Not attend large or public gatherings and venues unless the event includes social distancing safeguards and;
• Attend meetings or gatherings where over 50 people may be present by online streaming when possible.
Businesses shall:
• Operate dine-in services with elevated cleaning and hygiene measures;
• Continue flexible work arrangements with possible telework options;
• Implement strict public health protocols in high-contact situations
A total of 32 Oklahoma counties, including Garfield County, are in the orange or Moderate-Risk category, when there are more than 14.39 new daily cases per 100,000 population. Garfield County, which was upgraded to orange Thursday along with 16 other counties, has a reported 19.23 cases per 100,000, according to the OSDH.
--00-- 03 Aug 20 7a
IA)--A Hennessey man was injured early Sunday morning when he was involved in an accident on a Polaris Ranger UTV. 21 year old year old Ashton Michael Rapp was driving the UTV on a county road about a mile east of Hennessey in Kingfisher County around 3:30 Sunday morning when he reportedly turned too sharply onto a lease road and tipped the vehicle over on its side. 21 year old Javier Eduard Guevara was taken from the scene by Life EMS to Mercy Oklahoma City, where he was admitted in stable condition with arm injuries. There were three other adult male passengers, but they were not injured. The condition of the driver was listed as normal.
--00-- 03 Aug 20 7a
WF)--The Enid Police Department is currently looking for Michael R. Caldwell. Caldwell currently has an active Garfield County felony warrant for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. He was last known to be in the area of the 3100 block of S. Van Buren.
Anyone having information that will lead to the arrest or prosecution of the crime or any other crime is urged to call Garfield County Crime Stoppers at 580-233-6233, text your tip to “274637”. Just type Enid and then your message in the text box. Or go to the website, https://www.enid.org/services/police and submit a tip anonymously. You can earn a reward up to $1,000.00. You will not be required to testify and will not be identified.
--00-- 03 Aug 20 7a
AS)--Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, 507 S. 4th, is hosting an art show of Oklahoma-inspired work in multiple media, running through Aug. 19. The show, which is the center’s exhibit gallery, features the work of Jena Kodesh, Cheryl Swanson and Linda Heller. Featured pieces include oil paintings, oil enhanced photographs and three-dimensional pieces, and the art is available for purchase. Visitors to the Heritage Center will need to maintain social distancing throughout the galleries, and are required to wear face masks during their visit. Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For information, call (580) 237-1907 or visit www.csrhc.org.
--00-- 03 Aug 20 9a
SS)--Secondary parents and students are asked to mark their calendars for Enid Public Schools’ schedule and mask pick-up. Secondary schools will have pick-up at the following times:
Enid High School
9th Grade August 7 1-4 p.m. (Freshman Orientation will be a later date)
10th Grade August 7 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
11th Grade August 6 1-4 p.m.
12th Grade August 6 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Middle Schools
6th Grade August 7 8-11 a.m.
7th Grade August 7 1-4 p.m.
8th Grade August 7 1-4 p.m.
Students will report to their respective schools to pick up their schedules and masks. EPS will host a Meet the Teacher day on August 11 for new students, returning students will meet their teachers virtually through google classroom. Visit enidpublicschools.org for information about going back to school. Classes begin on August 13.
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IC)--Enid Public Schools has canceled planned immunization clinics for students due to a rise in the number of COVID-19 across the state. According to a statement on the district's website, www.enidpublicschools.org, due to the increase in the state Passport Health and the Oklahoma Caring Van have cancelled the upcoming immunization clinics for this year. Students who are needing immunizations will need to go to the Garfield County Health Department or their personal health care provider prior to school starting Aug. 13. The Health Department is allowing one parent/guardian, with a mask, to be present with the student. No appointment needed.
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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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