FOR RELEASE:
May 22, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT:

Shelley Zumwalt
Shelley.Zumwalt@omes.ok.gov

Coronavirus.health.ok.gov

COVID-19 Call Center:
2-1-1

STAY CONNECTED!
#HealthyOklahoma

MEDIA QUESTIONS?

Contact the
Office of Communications
(405) 271-5601

Communications@health.ok.gov

Business Hours: 

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Creating a State of Health

www.health.ok.gov 

Oklahoma to Receive Decontamination System for N95 Masks

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 22, 2020) – Hospitals, health care workers, and first responders in Oklahoma will soon have the option of recycling their N95 masks with the state receiving a new decontamination system developed by Battelle, a global research and development organization headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

The Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System is a self-contained, mobile system that uses high concentration, vapor phase hydrogen peroxide to decontaminate N95 masks.

Oklahoma will not incur a cost for the new service. Battelle was awarded a contract by the Defense Logistics Agency on behalf of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide N95 decontamination at no charge to health care providers.

"My first priority has always been to protect the health and lives of Oklahomans," said Gov. Kevin Stitt. "This system will help us continue to protect our health care workers and first responders as we stay proactive in our fight against COVID-19. Oklahoma is better when we work together."

"This system is a way to ensure an uninterrupted supply of critical PPE is available to health care workers and first responders in our state for the long-term," Interim Health Commissioner Lance Frye said. "Oklahoma's stockpile of PPE is in good shape now and through proactive partnerships like this we can add an extra layer of insurance that it will remain that way."

"This is a great example of the partnership between FEMA, our state and local partners, and health care providers working together to implement innovative solutions to preserve valuable personal protective equipment for those frontline Oklahomans taking care of those in need," said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson.

The Battelle system was created to address the global shortage of personal protective equipment and will serve to maximize Oklahoma's PPE stockpile, which currently includes approximately 181,000 N95 masks.

Up to 10,000 masks can be decontaminated at a time. The process takes about 2.5 hours per batch and health care workers can expect to have cleaned masks back within approximately 72 hours of receipt at the processing facility. An N95 mask can be decontaminated up to 20 times without degraded performance.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM), has acquired a suitable location for the system in Muskogee and will support any logistics needs for the facility which will be up and running by the end of the month.

"Bringing in this decontamination system was an easy decision when we saw what it could do and how it could help our state," OEM Director Mark Gower said. "We are coordinating with Battelle, OSDH and the site location to get the system in place and functional as quickly as possible."

"The City of Muskogee is proud to partner with the State of Oklahoma to bring this service to Muskogee, with the goal of helping increase the access to critical protective equipment to health care professionals all over Oklahoma," Muskogee City Manager Mike Miller said.

Battelle will transport the system to Oklahoma and provide staffing to run it.

A number of states have successfully implemented the system in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and OSDH is working with health care officials in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana to glean best practices for deploying the system locally. 

Only N95 masks that do not contain cellulose can be processed at this time. Decontamination of KN95 masks and other forms of PPE (gowns, gloves, etc.) is currently prohibited.

RELATED VIDEO: How the Battelle System Works

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FOR RELEASE:
May 22, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT:

Shelley Zumwalt
Shelley.Zumwalt@omes.ok.gov

Coronavirus.health.ok.gov

COVID-19 Call Center:
2-1-1

STAY CONNECTED!
#HealthyOklahoma

MEDIA QUESTIONS?

Contact the
Office of Communications
(405) 271-5601

Communications@health.ok.gov

Business Hours: 

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Creating a State of Health

www.health.ok.gov 

SITUATION UPDATE: COVID-19

• As of this advisory, there are 5,849 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma. 
• There are three additional deaths; one of them occurred in the past 24 hours and the others died between May 17-May 20.
  
  • One in Oklahoma County, a female in the 65 and older age group.
  • One in Tulsa County, a male in the 65 and older age group.
  • One in Texas County, a male in the 50-64 age group. 
• There are 307 total deaths in the state.
• COVID-19 testing sites are open in multiple cities in Oklahoma as a result of a cross-county, city and state health system partnership. Visit this page for updated dates and locations.
• For more information, visit coronavirus.health.ok.gov.

COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results

*The total includes laboratory information provided to OSDH at the time of the report. Total counts may not reflect unique individuals. 

**This number is a combination of hospitalized positive cases and hospitalized persons under investigation, as reported by hospitals at the time of the report. The data reflect a change in calculation and should not be compared to prior data. 

Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health.
*As of 2020-05-22 at 7:00 a.m.

Detailed case statistics are published on the website. Click here for more information.

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FOR RELEASE:
May 21, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT:

Shelley Zumwalt
Shelley.Zumwalt@omes.ok.gov

Coronavirus.health.ok.gov

COVID-19 Call Center:
2-1-1

STAY CONNECTED!
#HealthyOklahoma

MEDIA QUESTIONS?

Contact the
Office of Communications
(405) 271-5601

Communications@health.ok.gov

Business Hours: 

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Creating a State of Health

www.health.ok.gov 

SITUATION UPDATE: COVID-19

• As of this advisory, there are 5,680 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma. 
• There are five additional deaths; one of them occurred in the past 24 hours and the others died between May 14-May 19.
  
  • Three in Oklahoma County, one female in the 65 and older age group, one male in the 65 and older age group and one male in the 50-64 age group.
  • One in Tulsa County, a male in the 65 and older age group.
  • One in Washington County, a female in the 65 and older age group. 
• There are 304 total deaths in the state.
• Through a partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma and The Caring Foundation, OSDH is deploying Caring Vans providing free COVID-19 testing to underserved communities in Oklahoma City, increasing testing accessibility. A Caring Van will be at the Latino Community Development Agency (lcdaok.com) today (5/21) from 4 to 7 p.m. COVID-19 testing is open to everyone 16 and older; people do not need to exhibit symptoms to be tested. More information can be found here.
• COVID-19 testing sites are open in multiple cities in Oklahoma as a result of a cross-county, city and state health system partnership. Visit this page for updated dates and locations.
• For more information, visit coronavirus.health.ok.gov.

COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results

*The total includes laboratory information provided to OSDH at the time of the report. Total counts may not reflect unique individuals. 

**This number is a combination of hospitalized positive cases and hospitalized persons under investigation, as reported by hospitals at the time of the report. The data reflect a change in calculation and should not be compared to prior data. 

Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health.
*As of 2020-05-21 at 7:00 a.m.

Detailed case statistics are published on the website. Click here for more information.

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FOR RELEASE:
May 20, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT:

Shelley Zumwalt
Shelley.Zumwalt@omes.ok.gov

Coronavirus.health.ok.gov

COVID-19 Call Center:
2-1-1

STAY CONNECTED!
#HealthyOklahoma

MEDIA QUESTIONS?

Contact the
Office of Communications
(405) 271-5601

Communications@health.ok.gov

Business Hours: 

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Creating a State of Health

www.health.ok.gov 

SITUATION UPDATE: COVID-19

• As of this advisory, there are 5,532 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma. 
• There are five additional deaths; none of them occurred in the past 24 hours and the others died between April 22-May 18.
  
  • Two in Oklahoma County, both females in the 65 and older age group.
  • Two in Tulsa County, one male in the 65 and older age group and one female in the 65 and older age group. 
  • One in Cleveland County, a female in the 65 and older age group. 
• There are 299 total deaths in the state.
• Through a partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma and The Caring Foundation, OSDH is deploying Caring Vans providing free COVID-19 testing to underserved communities in Oklahoma City, increasing testing accessibility. A Caring Van will be at the Latino Community Development Agency (lcdaok.com) today (5/20) and tomorrow (5/21) from 4 to 7 p.m. COVID-19 testing is open to everyone 16 and older; people do not need to exhibit symptoms to be tested. More information can be found here.
• COVID-19 testing sites are open in multiple cities in Oklahoma as a result of a cross-county, city and state health system partnership. Visit this page for updated dates and locations.
• For more information, visit coronavirus.health.ok.gov.

COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results

*The total includes laboratory information provided to OSDH at the time of the report. Total counts may not reflect unique individuals. 

**This number is a combination of hospitalized positive cases and hospitalized persons under investigation, as reported by hospitals at the time of the report. The data reflect a change in calculation and should not be compared to prior data. 

Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health.
*As of 2020-05-20 at 7:00 a.m.

Detailed case statistics are published on the website. Click here for more information.

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FOR RELEASE:
May 19, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT:

Shelley Zumwalt
Shelley.Zumwalt@omes.ok.gov

Coronavirus.health.ok.gov

COVID-19 Call Center:
2-1-1

STAY CONNECTED!
#HealthyOklahoma

MEDIA QUESTIONS?

Contact the
Office of Communications
(405) 271-5601

Communications@health.ok.gov

Business Hours: 

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Creating a State of Health

www.health.ok.gov 

SITUATION UPDATE: COVID-19

• As of this advisory, there are 5,489 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma. 
• There are six additional deaths; none of them occurred in the past 24 hours and the others died between May 4-May 17.
  
  • Three in Oklahoma County, two females in the 65 and older age group and a male in the 65 and older age group.
  • One in McIntosh County, a male in the 65 and older age group. 
  • Two in Washington County, both females in the 65 and older age group. 
• There are 294 total deaths in the state.
• As highlighted in the Governor's EO report published Monday evening, the State has processed since Saturday 16,308 specimens tested for COVID-19, which is an average of 5,400 tests processed a day. As a result, the percentage of positives derived from Oklahoma's total COVID-19 tests has declined again to an all-time low of 4.4%.
• Through a partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma and The Caring Foundation, OSDH is deploying Caring Vans providing free COVID-19 testing to underserved communities in Oklahoma City, increasing testing accessibility. This week, a Caring Van will be at the Latino Community Development Agency (lcdaok.com). COVID-19 testing is open to everyone 16 and older; people do not need to exhibit symptoms to be tested. More information can be found here.
• COVID-19 testing sites are open in multiple cities in Oklahoma as a result of a cross-county, city and state health system partnership. Visit this page for updated dates and locations.
• For more information, visit coronavirus.health.ok.gov.

COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results

*The total includes laboratory information provided to OSDH at the time of the report. Total counts may not reflect unique individuals. 

**This number is a combination of hospitalized positive cases and hospitalized persons under investigation, as reported by hospitals at the time of the report. The data reflect a change in calculation and should not be compared to prior data. 

Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health.
*As of 2020-05-19 at 7:00 a.m.

Detailed case statistics are published on the website. Click here for more information.

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FOR RELEASE:
May 18, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT:

Shelley Zumwalt
Shelley.Zumwalt@omes.ok.gov

Coronavirus.health.ok.gov

COVID-19 Call Center:
2-1-1

STAY CONNECTED!
#HealthyOklahoma

MEDIA QUESTIONS?

Contact the
Office of Communications
(405) 271-5601

Communications@health.ok.gov

Business Hours: 

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Creating a State of Health

www.health.ok.gov 

SITUATION UPDATE: COVID-19

• As of this advisory, there are 5,398 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma. 
• There are no additional deaths.
• There are 288 total deaths in the state.
• On Sunday, OSDH reported 78 new positive COVID cases, for a total of 5,310 positives, and today the agency is reporting 88 new positive COVID-19 cases, for a total of 5,398 positives.
• Of today's new positive cases, 64% were in Texas County, where the agency is partnering with the CDC, businesses and the community on a robust testing and tracing strategy to contain and minimize further spread of COVID-19 throughout this region. More details on this effort can be read here.
• Through a partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma and The Caring Foundation, OSDH is deploying Caring Vans providing free COVID-19 testing to underserved communities in Oklahoma City, increasing testing accessibility. COVID-19 testing is open to everyone 16 and older; people do not need to exhibit symptoms to be tested. This week, a Caring Van will be at the Latino Community Development Agency (lcdaok.com). More information can be found here.
• COVID-19 testing sites are open in multiple cities in Oklahoma as a result of a cross-county, city and state health system partnership. Visit this page for updated dates and locations.
• For more information, visit coronavirus.health.ok.gov.

COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results

*The total includes laboratory information provided to OSDH at the time of the report. Total counts may not reflect unique individuals. 

**This number is a combination of hospitalized positive cases and hospitalized persons under investigation, as reported by hospitals at the time of the report. The data reflect a change in calculation and should not be compared to prior data. 

Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health.
*As of 2020-05-18 at 7:00 a.m.

Detailed case statistics are published on the website. Click here for more information.

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FOR RELEASE:
May 18, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kristin Davis

Kristin.Davis@health.ok.gov

Coronavirus.health.ok.gov

COVID-19 Call Center:
2-1-1

STAY CONNECTED!
#HealthyOklahoma

MEDIA QUESTIONS?

Contact the
Office of Communications
(405) 271-5601

Communications@health.ok.gov

Business Hours: 

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Creating a State of Health

www.health.ok.gov 

Caring Vans to provide COVID-19 testing at Latino Community Development Agency

• Through a partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma and The Caring Foundation, OSDH is deploying Caring Vans providing free COVID-19 testing to underserved communities in Oklahoma City, increasing testing accessibility.

• This week, a Caring Van will be at the Latino Community Development Agency (lcdaok.com).

  • When: Monday through Thursday, May 18-21

  • Hours: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

  • Location: 420 SW 10th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73109

• COVID-19 testing is open to everyone 16 and older; people do not need to exhibit symptoms to be tested.
• OSDH is committed to working closely with public health and community leaders to increase testing capacity, going beyond traditional drive-thru sites to a more mobile model statewide.
• Please visit coronavirus.health.ok.gov for additional COVID-19 testing information.

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FOR RELEASE:
May 16, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT:

Shelley Zumwalt
Shelley.Zumwalt@omes.ok.gov

Coronavirus.health.ok.gov

COVID-19 Call Center:
2-1-1

STAY CONNECTED!
#HealthyOklahoma

MEDIA QUESTIONS?

Contact the
Office of Communications
(405) 271-5601

Communications@health.ok.gov

Business Hours: 

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Creating a State of Health

www.health.ok.gov 

SITUATION UPDATE: COVID-19

• As of this advisory, there are 5,237 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma. 
• There are three additional deaths; none of them occurred in the past 24 hours and the others died between April 30-May 13.
  
  • One in Oklahoma County, a male in the 50-64 age group.
  • One in Caddo County, a male in the 65 and older age group. 
  • One in Cleveland County, a male in the 65 and older age group. 
• There are 288 total deaths in the state.
• This week's Oklahoma COVID-19 Weekly Report is now available. Reports from weeks past can be found here.
• COVID-19 testing sites are open in multiple cities in Oklahoma as a result of a cross-county, city and state health system partnership. Visit this page for updated dates and locations.
• For more information, visit coronavirus.health.ok.gov.

COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results

*The total includes laboratory information provided to OSDH at the time of the report. Total counts may not reflect unique individuals. 

**This number is a combination of hospitalized positive cases and hospitalized persons under investigation, as reported by hospitals at the time of the report. The data reflect a change in calculation and should not be compared to prior data. 

Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health.
*As of 2020-05-16 at 7:00 a.m.

Detailed case statistics are published on the website. Click here for more information.

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FOR RELEASE:
May 15, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT:

Shelley Zumwalt
Shelley.Zumwalt@omes.ok.gov

Coronavirus.health.ok.gov

COVID-19 Call Center:
2-1-1

STAY CONNECTED!
#HealthyOklahoma

MEDIA QUESTIONS?

Contact the
Office of Communications
(405) 271-5601

Communications@health.ok.gov

Business Hours: 

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Creating a State of Health

www.health.ok.gov 

SITUATION UPDATE: OSDH Weekly Epidemiology Report

• Today's weekly Oklahoma COVID-19 Weekly Report is now available.
• This week's report gives a first look at antibody testing. Antibody tests are helpful in determining if a person has been exposed to the COVID-19 virus in the past. Antibody test results help us understand how quickly the virus is spreading throughout our communities. Please note that individual antibody test results need to be interpreted with caution because a positive antibody result does not necessarily mean that an individual is immune or that they are not infectious to others.
• Reports from weeks past can be found here.

Percent of positive specimens, Oklahoma, April 6 – May 14, 2020

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