COVID-19 UPDATES 4/9/20

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


HEALTH DEPARTMENT STATUS

• As of this advisory, there are 1,684 positive cases of COVID-19 and 80 deaths in Oklahoma. There are now 47 positive cases in Comanche County. Please follow CDC guidelines and the Governor’s executive order. 
• There are 1,519 negative cases of COVID-19 and 415 total cumulative hospitalizations.
• 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.

FIRST RESPONDERS GRANTED GUARANTEED PTO FOR COVID-19

• First responders such as law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers and more are to receive GUARANTEED paid time off if they contract COVID-19 under an executive order by Governor Stitt. It can be viewed at www.sos.ok.gov/documents/executive/1929.pdf
• The order also:
  • Encourages licensing boards to take steps to get physician assistants, nurse practitioners, retired physicians, medical students and recent medical school graduates into COVID-19 response efforts.
  • Allows closed health care facilities to be REOPENED and removes regulatory burdens that would create lag time in getting bed space to treat patients.
  • Allows stretcher vans and stretcher aid vans to assist with emergencies and operate ANYWHERE in the state.

 
UNEMPLOYMENT VIRTUAL TOWN HALL SET

• Anyone seeking UNEMPLOYMENT can get information and questions answered at a virtual town hall tomorrow.
• The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission’s virtual town hall is FRIDAY AT 1 P.M. A link to the livestream will be posted at ok.gov/oesc tomorrow and on social media.

 
DAILY STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT

• RECOVERIES were up by 74, putting total recoveries at 686.
• There have been 20,233 TESTS completed.
• There are 188 people HOSPITALIZED, with 120 of them in ICU, leaving 38% of the state’s current ICU beds available. All other tracked hospital bed categories have more than 50% availability.

 
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS CONTINUE

• CONSTRUCTION on many transportation projects has continued, and the Transportation Commission AWARDED new contracts this week for projects in 26 counties that can be viewed at odot.org/contracts by selecting the March 2020 AM letting, clicking Go, then Award 

 
As always, I can be reached via email at daniel.pae@okhouse.gov and phone at 405-557-7374.