The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported Wednesday 12 more Oklahomans have died from COVID-19, bringing the total number known to have died from the illness to 79.
Oklahoma's first COVID-19 death was three weeks ago, March 19. The number of deaths has more than doubled since Friday.
The flu has killed 79 people in Oklahoma since Sept. 1.
Four deaths — two men and two women, all 65 or older — were in Oklahoma County, while Tulsa and Cleveland counties had two more reported deaths apiece. Tulsa County has the 16 deaths from COVID-19, most in the state, and Oklahoma County has 15.
The health department reported 52 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. Oklahoma has now had 1,524 total cases of the illness.
Oklahoma County is up to 317 cases, while Tulsa County has 293 and Cleveland County has 212.
Over the course of the outbreak, 390 people have been hospitalized.
"Unfortunately, the next two or three weeks, we’re going to see a lot more cases, and unfortunately, we will have more deaths in Oklahoma. That’s why it’s extremely important for everybody to take this seriously, stay home and protect those loved ones that are a vulnerable population," said State Health Commissioner Gary Cox.
The state health department is now reporting COVID-19 cases and deaths in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities each day. In their last available report, 118 residents and 47 workers statewide have been infected, and 16 have died. Norman's Grace Living Center alone accounts for 67 cases and eight deaths.
To date, roughly 14,000 COVID-19 tests have been administered in Oklahoma. Labs report around 41,000 tests are currently available, but many are limited in how many they can process a day because of supply shortages, processing times or staffing shortages.
A list of testing sites and their requirements is available online.
This story was updated April 9 at 12:05 p.m. to correct the total number of cases in Oklahoma.
