New figures from the Oklahoma State Department of Health on Wednesday show five people in the state have now died from COVID-19 and Tulsa County's number of reported cases has more than doubled, going from 12 to 27.
A man in his 70s and a man in his 40s in Oklahoma County account for the two new deaths. There have been 59 people hospitalized for the illness.
The total number of reported cases in the state stands at 164, up 55 from the day before. The number of reported cases is limited by the state's testing capability. Officials estimate there are could be five times as many actual cases.
Eight counties had their first reported cases of COVID-19, meaning the illness is now confirmed in 27 of the state's counties. Oklahoma County continues to have the most cases, with 55. Cleveland and Tulsa counties both have 27 reported cases.
Tulsa County's 15 new reported cases include the state's first in a child between 5 and 17 years old. Most of the cases are in adults age 60 or older.
In a statement on Tuesday, Oklahoma Methodist Manor said a supervisory employee tested positive for COVID-19. The statement said the employee had not been at the nursing home since March 5 and started feeling flu-like symptoms March 7.
The employee was tested for COVID-19 March 16, and the result came in Monday.
"The employee has not had any contact with any resident in the past 19 days, so the presumed risk of transmission is low," Oklahoma Methodist Manor's statement said.
The state health department said it has started rolling out mobile testing in Oklahoma intended to help develop a large-scale, statewide program. Pittsburg County and Kay County sites started Wednesday with limited testing supplies.
For Oklahoma's reported cases of COVID-19, 30 positive tests have come from privately owned Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma, 62 from the state public health lab and 72 from other private labs.
The most reported cases in any age group are among adults 65 and older, with 55. Among adults, 18- to 35-year-olds have the fewest reported cases, 32.
