COVID-19 UPDATES 4/22/20

Let’s Stay Calm, Stay Positive, and STAY HOME!


HEALTH DEPARTMENT STATUS

• As of this advisory, there are 2,894 positive cases of COVID-19 and 170 deaths in Oklahoma. 
• There are 71 positive cases in Comanche County. 
• There has been one person who’s passed away in Comanche County. 
• In Lawton, there are 62 confirmed positive cases. 
• Please follow CDC guidelines and the Governor’s executive order. 
• The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) continues to support guidelines from the CDC related to social distancing and personal hygiene. OSDH encourages Oklahomans to stay home, reduce person-to-person contact, wash hands frequently, and avoid touching your face. If you develop symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath or cough, please contact your medical professional or call the COVID-19 call center at 877-215-8336 or 211 for assistance.
• For more information, visit coronavirus.health.ok.gov.

MORE FUNDING ON WAY TO PPP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
·       The U.S. Senate APPROVED $310 billion in additional federal funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and the U.S. House is expected vote to send the measure to the president today.
·       The funding would REPLENISH the PPP, which grants loans to businesses with 500 or fewer workers that are forgivable if workers are kept on the payroll. PPP’s initial $349 billion was quickly DEPLETED due to intense demand.
·       The $483 billion relief measure also includes $75 billion for HOSPITALS and $25 billion for TESTING.
 
IRS STATUS CHECK
·       Many Oklahomans have received their ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS of $1,200 per person. Those who have not can check their status and request payment at irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments
·       If the website is not helpful, U.S. Sen. James Lankford’s office is ASSISTING citizens on this matter.
o   Before contacting the senator’s office, please complete and submit the privacy release found at lankford.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Privacy_release_interactive.pdf
o   Completing this will expedite the office’s ability to assist you.
·       If you are a SOCIAL SECURITY recipient who did not file a tax return, you do not need to take any action to receive your payment.
·       If you owe CHILD SUPPORT, your relief check may be garnished. Owing back child support is the only reason the payment may be offset. It will not be offset for taxes or debts owed to the state or federal government.
 
DAILY STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT
·       RECOVERIES were up by 88, putting total recoveries at 1,702. DEATHS were up by 21, with 16 of those occurring from April 14 to April 19, putting total deaths at 164.
·       There have been 46,122 TESTS reported, with 2,807 CONFIRMED cases after 127 new cases yesterday. There are 941 ACTIVE cases.
·       There are 149 people HOSPITALIZED for COVID-19 and 149 people hospitalized for INVESTIGATION of COVID-19. Of the 298 people hospitalized for a positive case or for investigation, 147 are in ICU, leaving 40% of the state’s current ICU beds available. There have been 588 hospitalizations over the course of the pandemic.
 
As always, I can be reached via email at daniel.pae@okhouse.gov and phone at 405-557-7374.  ​