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Oklahoma's COVID-19 Case Counts Increase As Vaccinations Level Off

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Oklahoma’s coronavirus case counts are increasing as its vaccinations level off.

As the surge in Delta variant cases makes it way into Oklahoma, the state’s active cases have risen by more than 30 percent over last week — up to nearly 3,500. Oklahoma saw its highest daily new case count in months last Wednesday, nearly 1,000.

Oklahoma’s vaccination rate is languishing, ranking in the bottom ten. Statewide, the rate is at about 39 percent, but it varies heavily county to county. For example, Oklahoma County is over 60 percent. Cimarron and Dewey counties are under 30 percent.

And new vaccinations are dropping. Throughout the spring, it was common for about 20,000 people a day to get their shots, according to data from the Oklahoma State University Rural Health Center. Throughout July, those daily figures have hovered at or below 3,000 a day.

Catherine Sweeney reports for StateImpact Oklahoma, focusing on health.
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