Catherine Sweeney

Health Reporter

Catherine Sweeney joined StateImpact Oklahoma in July 2020, focusing on health reporting.

She grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma and attended Oklahoma State University. Catherine has covered local, state and federal government for outlets in Oklahoma, Colorado and Washington, D.C.

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Coronavirus In Oklahoma: The Latest

By , , , , , , , , , & • 1 hour ago
Mairead Todd / KOSU

KOSU is covering the coronavirus in Oklahoma and how it's affecting our lives. Bookmark this page for the latest updates.

Gov. Stitt's Plan To Move Oklahoma Public Health Lab Faces More Criticism

By • Oct 21, 2020
Jackie Fortier / StateImpact Oklahoma

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s plan to move the state public health laboratory is getting more criticism. A national lab association is raising concerns about the interim facility and uprooting the lab during a pandemic.

State Question 814 Goes Before Oklahoma Voters In Latest Effort To Divert TSET Funds

By • Oct 21, 2020
Flickr / Ben Skirvin/WFIU

In two weeks, Oklahoma voters will decide whether they want to take annual payments from a public health program and put them toward Medicaid expansion. But, State Question 814 is not the first time Oklahoma has considered taking money out of the state’s tobacco settlement program.

COVID Hospitalizations Peak Again, As Oklahoma Adds 18 Deaths And 1,475 Cases

By & • Oct 20, 2020
Mairead Todd / KOSU

Oklahoma’s coronavirus hospitalizations have been trending up for weeks and just crossed yet another milestone.

As of Monday evening, the number of people hospitalized for the virus stood at a record-high of 821, and the share of those hospitalizations in the intensive care unit reached a record-high of 319.

Oklahoma Public Health Laboratory Relocation Plan Draws Blowback

By & Kassie McClung • Oct 13, 2020
Jackie Fortier / StateImpact Oklahoma

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s sudden announcement last week that the state’s public health laboratory will move to Stillwater quickly garnered opposition.

A Syphilis Outbreak In South-Central Oklahoma Increasing Strain On Public Health System

By • Oct 8, 2020
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Although the coronavirus is the greatest public health emergency our country and state have seen in a century, it isn’t the only one happening right now. There's also an outbreak of syphilis in south-central Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Is Getting A New Public Health Lab

By • Oct 8, 2020
Oklahoma State Department of Health

Oklahoma is finally getting a new public health lab, but it won't be in Oklahoma City.

COVID Hospitalizations Trending The Wrong Way In Oklahoma

By • Oct 1, 2020
Mufid Majnun / Unsplash

A few weeks after Oklahoma’s coronavirus case counts began trending back up, hospitalizations have followed.

In its daily coronavirus update Thursday, the State Department of Health announced 610 Oklahomans were hospitalized for COVID-19. That rivals some of the highest hospitalization rates the state has seen since the pandemic began.

Oklahoma's College Campuses Continue To Be Coronavirus Hotspots

By & • Oct 1, 2020
Robby Korth / StateImpact Oklahoma

A September surge of COVID-19 cases in Oklahoma is largely a result of the coronavirus’ spread on college campuses.

How Are COVID-19 Deaths Reported In Oklahoma?

By • Sep 29, 2020
Mufid Majnun / Unsplash

If you’re following the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s coronavirus reports, you’ve probably seen the daily death figures. They detail where the victims lived and their age range.

You might also notice a note included every day: Few to none of the deaths occurred in the past 24 hours and some can be a month old.

How?

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