The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported on Tuesday 1,551 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state's total to 158,408.
Tulsa County had 228 of Tuesday's new cases. Its total now stands at 27,729, second to Oklahoma County's 31,970. Both the state and Tulsa County posted their lowest new case numbers in almost two weeks.
The state's seven-day average of new cases, which shows the trend in infections, dropped from 2,629 to 2,607. It peaked at 2,636 on Saturday after rising by 1,615 over 13 straight reporting days, hitting nine consecutive new records. Since Sept. 19, the seven-day average has been below 1,000 just two days.
Tulsa County's seven-day average of new cases dropped from a new high of 405 to 386. The county's average rose for 18 straight reporting days, climbing 253 since Oct. 29.
The state reported six deaths, with none in the past 24 hours. Two were in Tulsa County: a man and a woman both 65 or older. Statewide, four other adults age 65 or older were also reported dead. Since March 18, COVID-19 has officially killed 1,544 Oklahomans, 240 of them in Tulsa County.
There were 1,381 Oklahomans hospitalized for COVID-19 on Monday evening, 134 more than on Friday and a new record. Of those hospitalized Monday, 1,301 had positive coronavirus tests. Overall, 390 Oklahomans hospitalized for COVID-19 were in intensive care units, 28 more than on Friday and a new record for the third straight day.
According to the state health department, Tulsa County had 335 residents hospitalized as of Monday evening, 36 more than on Friday and a new record.
Over the course of the pandemic, 10,481 Oklahomans have been hospitalized for COVID-19.
As of Monday, the state reported 5% of its adult ICU beds and 12% of its medical surgery beds were available.
The state health department reported 1,895 additional patients as recovered on Monday, bringing the total to 128,057. Patients are considered to have recovered if they did not die, are not currently hospitalized and it has been at least 14 days since their symptoms began. Symptoms have been reported to linger for several weeks for some individuals.
The state has 28,807 active cases of COVID-19, 350 fewer than the day before and the first decrease after 11 straight new records.
Tulsa County reported 275 additional patients as recovered, bringing the total to 23,149. The county has 4,340 active cases, 49 fewer than the day before and the first decline after seven straight new records.
The state's reported overall positive test rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 9% on Monday. Out of 42,566 tests reported on Monday, 15.9% were positive. Each positive test does not necessarily represent a unique individual.
The state also reports its cumulative positive test rate, a metric used by Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. It is calculated by dividing the number of cases by the number of negative tests plus the number of cases. As of Monday that rate was 8.5%, up 0.3 percentage points from Friday.
Johns Hopkins uses the different rate to compare states that may track testing differently. It notes the ideal way to calculate the positivity rate is dividing the number of people who test positive by the number of people who are tested, which is how Oklahoma's overall rate is calculated.
The World Health Organization's benchmark indicating adequate testing is a 5% positive test rate.
