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4 Positive COVID-19 Cases Confirmed In Oklahoma

The Oklahoma State Department of Health has announced the first presumptive case of COVID-19 in Oklahoma County. The patient is a woman in her 60s who recently traveled to Florida. She is in isolation at home, and public health officials are doing an investigation to find people she was recently in contact with. However, they note that this case is unrelated to other cases reported in the state and is not a sign of community spread.

The newest patient brings the total number of COVID-19 cases in Oklahoma to four. The state's count does not count the presumptive positive tests for two players from the Utah Jazz that prompted the suspension of the National Basketball Association's season on Wednesday, March 11.

Officials acknowledge that testing for the virus has been limited in Oklahoma. In a situation update Friday night, they say they have 500 tests in the state with more on the way, but it is unclear when additional tests will arrive. They say this increase in the number of tests will allow for slightly wider parameters of patient testing, but it is still limited. 

President Trump announced Friday that drive-thru testing units would open at some Target and CVS stores, but as of this posting, no stores in Oklahoma have been identified to perform these tests.

The federal disaster declaration made by President Trump and the Centers for Disease Control on Friday will allow for additional federal funding to come to Oklahoma, but state officials have not been notified how much Oklahoma will receive in its allocation.

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If you have plans to go somewhere this week, it is a good idea to call ahead. Some organizations, such as the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, that had previously announced they would remain open with additional precaustions have now announced they will be closed until April 1.

The KOSU news team curates news of interest to Oklahomans from various sources around the world. Our hope is inform, educate, and entertain.
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