COVID-19 UPDATES 4/23/20

4/23/2020

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

HEALTH DEPARTMENT STATUS

As of this advisory, there are 3,017 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 and 179 deaths in Oklahoma.
There are 75 confirmed positive cases in Comanche County.
There has been one person who’s passed away in Comanche County.
In Lawton, there are 66 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.

PHASED REOPENING PLAN ANNOUNCED

Governor Stitt’s multiphase reopening plan should be viewed in its ENTIRETY at:
okcommerce.gov/wp-content/uploads/Open-Up-and-Recover-Safely-Plan.pdf
The plan’s general TIMELINE is as follows:
- ON FRIDAY, personal care businesses in some communities can reopen by appointment only, and state parks and outdoor recreation can reopen.
- FOR PHASE ONE ON MAY 1, restaurant dining rooms, movie theaters, gyms, sporting venues, places of worship and tattoo parlors can reopen in a limited fashion.
- After TWO WEEKS of manageable hospital and incident rates, PHASE TWO would begin, with additional activities and businesses allowed to resume in a limited fashion.
- PHASE THREE is targeted for June 1, with further details released once Phase Two begins.
- Through at least June, AT-RISK populations should continue to stay home except for essential needs.
In all scenarios, residents and businesses are to continue strictly practicing SOCIAL DISTANCING and good SANITATION.
- Specific reopening requirements for BUSINESSES are at: okcommerce.gov/covid19/
The governor said residents in communities with stricter LOCAL restrictions should adhere to local policies.
- Oklahoma City, Tulsa and many midsize communities continue to have STRICTER restrictions in place through April.
The governor said state officials will pull back the reopening plans if there are SPIKES in incidents.

RURAL AND AGRICULTURE RELIEF PROGRAMS DETAILED

The $19 billion federal Coronavirus Food Assistance Program includes $16 billion in direct support to FARMERS and RANCHERS, plus $3 billion of direct USDA purchase and distribution of fresh produce, dairy and meats.
DIRECT PAYMENTS to farmers and ranchers will be made by May with a payment limit is $125,000 per commodity and an overall limit of $250,000 per individual or entity. Qualified commodities must have experienced a 5% price decrease between January and April. Payment will be determined using two calculations:
- 85% of price losses that occurred Jan. 1 to April 15.
- 30% of expected losses from April 15 through the next two quarters.
Other program details are in development. The announcement is available at usda.gov/media/press-releases/2020/04/17/usda-announces-coronavirus-food-assistance-program
For rural residents, businesses and communities, a comprehensive RESOURCE GUIDE of COVID-19 federal relief programs has been assembled at rd.usda.gov/coronavirus

DAILY STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT

RECOVERIES were up by 70, putting total recoveries at 1,772. DEATHS were up by 6, putting total deaths at 170.
There are 952 ACTIVE cases. There have been 47,984 TESTS reported, with 2,894 CONFIRMED cases after 87 new cases yesterday.
There are 135 people HOSPITALIZED for COVID-19 and 149 people hospitalized for INVESTIGATION of COVID-19. Of the 284 people hospitalized for a positive case or for investigation, 156 are in ICU, leaving 35% of the state’s current ICU beds available. There have been 608 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.

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