Monday's News Update From KWGS

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The number of reported cases of the coronavirus increased by 3,406 and the number of deaths from the virus increased by 10, the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported on Sunday.

The department reported 1,505 hospitalizations Friday, topping the previous one-day high of 1,434 on Wednesday.

There were a total of 174,330 reported cases since the start of the pandemic and the seven-day rolling average of new cases in the state has nearly doubled from 1,465 per day on Nov. 6 to 2,843 as of Friday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. is urging citizens to follow federal recommendations and avoid gathering for Thanksgiving amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.

"Our ICU beds at Hastings Hospital are staying full as we see and help more of our citizens hospitalized by this virus," Hoskin said. "The best thing we can do is stay in this holiday, and if you're around other people, wearing a mask is critical."

Hoskin said the tribe's public health team is seeing positive test rates three times higher than in recent weeks.