Oklahoma Watch by Trevor Brown and Paul Monies

Oklahoma officials reported the state’s 600th COVID-19 death on Friday. 

Over the past seven days, cases have increased by 5,274 as 58 deaths were added to the state’s total. That just tops last week’s record-breaking death toll, when 57 died due to the virus.  

Several areas in the eastern part of the state had some of the biggest increases over the last week, according to an analysis of Oklahoma State Department of Health data.

ZIP codes in Heavener, McAlester, Broken Arrow and Tahlequah saw the largest increase in active cases (calculated by taking new cases and subtracting it by the number of deaths and recoveries) between July 31 and Thursday. (See interactive map HERE).

One ZIP code in Heavener, which hadn’t seen any cases until Memorial Day, climbed from just five active cases to 39 over the seven-day period. The ZIP code that includes Broken Arrow’s Rose District, which has been one of the hardest hit in the state with 865 total cases, saw its active cases increase from 149 to 175 during this time. 

 COVID-19 cases in areas of Oklahoma City and Tulsa also continued to spike during the first week of August. 

This includes a ZIP code just southwest of Will Rogers World Airport that has one of the highest per-capita rates of active cases in the state. With the addition of 14 active cases during the week, the 73169 zip code had 118 active cases for every 10,000 residents, as of Thursday. 

Meanwhile, several previous hot spots have seen cases go down. This includes Altus, which recorded 88 fewer active cases than a week ago, and Lexington, which recorded 85 fewer active cases.

Despite the state seeing worsening conditions in cases, deaths and hospitalizations compared to earlier this summer, Gov. Kevin Stitt said during a press conference Thursday that “Oklahoma’s response to COVID-19 is being praised by the federal government” and being shown as “an example for other states.”

The governor’s comments a day after President Donald Trump announced Dr. Deborah Birx, a key member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, will visit Oklahoma and among other states to “deliver aggressive, tailored and targeted guidance.”

Stitt, who has pushed back against medical experts who have urged the state to adopt broader mask mandates or place new restrictions on businesses or large gatherings, said the state has done well in securing necessary hospital beds and medical equipment to handle hot spots and surges. 

Health Commissioner Col. Lance Frye said the state’s models forecasts that hospitalizations, which have hovered in the 500s and 600s the past couple weeks, will likely continue to be in that range. 

“With the number of hospitalizations, we are pretty stable right now,” he said. “If you’re looking at the number of cases, I think it’s a little too early to say (that they have plateaued).”

Industry leaders call on public health officials to send resources to long term care facilities and on Congress to provide additional funding in next COVID legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and assisted living communities across the country that provide care to approximately five million people each year, released a report today showing nursing homes in the U.S. have experienced an alarming spike in new COVID cases due to community spread among the general population according to recent data recently released from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The CMS data shows COVID cases in nursing homes significantly increased last month after having dropped significantly throughout the month of June.

As experts have repeatedly noted, COVID-19 cases in a surrounding community is a top factor in outbreaks in nursing homes. Dr. David Grabowski, professor of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School recently stated, “According to preliminary research presented, larger facilities located in urban areas with large populations, particularly in counties with a higher prevalence of COVID-19 cases, were more likely to have reported cases.”
 
“With the recent major spikes of COVID cases in many states across the country, we were very concerned this trend would lead to an increase in cases in nursing homes and unfortunately it has,” stated Mark Parkinson, President and CEO of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living. “This is especially troubling since many nursing homes and other long term care facilities are still unable to acquire the personal protective equipment and testing they need to fully combat this virus.”

The report also showed COVID-related deaths in nursing homes had declined significantly but have started to uptick again in recent weeks.

Parkinson and AHCA/NCAL recently sent a letter to the National Governors Association (NGA) warning states of imminent outbreaks at nursing homes and assisted living facilities given the major spikes in new cases in several states across the U.S., combined with serious PPE shortages and significant delays in getting testing results for long term care residents and caregivers which has been taking up to five days or more.

“Given the fact we are several months into the response of this pandemic and the lack of PPE supplies is still an issue is very concerning. We request governors and state public health agencies to help secure and direct more PPE supplies to nursing homes and assisted living communities, especially N95 masks,” Parkinson wrote in the letter.

Using data from Johns Hopkins University, AHCA/NCAL released a state-by-state breakdown showing 33 states with a positive COVID-19 test rate of higher than five percent and data from CMS indicating many nursing homes are still facing significant PPE supply shortages especially for N95 masks and gowns.

AHCA/NCAL is calling on public health officials to take immediate steps to protect nursing homes and assisted living communities especially in areas with significant uptick in new COVID cases.

Parkinson is also urging Congress for an additional $100 billion for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Provider Relief Fund, which is accessible for all health care providers impacted by COVID-19, and that a sizeable portion of the fund be dedicated to helping nursing homes and assisted living communities acquire resources associated with protecting vulnerable residents and staff from the virus, including constant testing, PPE and staff support.

“Without adequate funding and resources, the U.S. will end up repeating the same mistakes from several months ago. We need Congress to prioritize our vulnerable seniors and their caregivers in nursing homes and assisted living communities in this upcoming legislation.”

For more information, please visit www.ahcancal.org/coronavirus. 

ABOUT AHCA/NCAL

The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) represents more than 14,000 non-profit and proprietary skilled nursing centers, assisted living communities, sub-acute centers and homes for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities. By delivering solutions for quality care, AHCA/NCAL aims to improve the lives of the millions of frail, elderly and individuals with disabilities who receive long term or post-acute care in our member facilities each day. For more information, please visit www.ahcancal.org or www.ncal.org.

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Majority Leader Mike Sanders, R-Kingfisher, today attended the ceremonial bill signing for House Bills 2804 and 2877.

HB 2877 strengthens the role of victims’ impact panels in helping to stop driving under the influence (DUI) offenses in Oklahoma and will help reduce the number of repeat offenders. The measure was a request by victims’ impact panel programs currently operating in Oklahoma. It follows up on successful DUI legislation Sanders passed in 2016 that strengthened prosecution of repeat drunk drivers by creating the Impaired Driving Elimination Act, moving all DUI cases to a court of record, ensuring district attorneys statewide would have access to records of DUI offenses to reduce repeat offenses.

HB 2804 requires dyslexia screening for kindergarten through third-grade students not reading on grade level beginning in the 2022-23 school year. The bill builds upon House Bill 1228, passed last year, which provides professional development for teachers across Oklahoma to help them better recognize signs of dyslexia in their students.

Sanders said both pieces of legislation are items of significant importance to him during his legislative career.

“I have fought always on the side of victims of crime, to see that their voices are heard and their needs considered in matters of criminal sentencing,” Sanders said. “At the same time, I’ve been a strong advocate for children diagnosed with dyslexia who too often got left behind their peers in reading and other academic subjects because their condition remained undetected or undiagnosed.

“I’m incredibly grateful to have won passage of these two important pieces of legislation and to see them become part of the Oklahoma statute. Victims of drunk drivers will now have an opportunity to speak to those who commit this heinous crime, and children statewide will benefit from screening that will help them learn to read on grade level and achieve academic success.”

Both bills were signed into law in May and took effect July 1. Ceremonial bill signings allow lawmakers and those influential in helping to draft the legislation or those most affected by it to attend.

Sanders thanked State Sen. Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma City, and State Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, the Senate authors of HB 2804 and HB 2877, respectively, for their work in getting the bills passed in the state Senate. He also thanked members of the Dyslexia and Education Task Force, the Decoding Dyslexia Oklahoma and the State Department of Education for their help in drafting HB 2804, and members of the victims’ impact panel programs for their help with HB 2877. Representatives from all groups attended today’s bill signings.

House Majority leader Mike Sanders along with his wife, Nellie, and sons Davis and Walker, and Tiffany Jenkins and Michelle Keiper from Decoding Dyslexia Oklahoma attend a ceremonial bill signing for House Bill 2804 in Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office on Monday, Aug. 10.

Sanders represents District 59 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which includes Dewey and parts of Blaine, Canadian, Kingfisher and Woodward counties. 

OSDH PRESS RELEASE

As of this advisory, there are 43,963 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma. 

• There are 2 additional deaths identified to report. One death was identified in the past 24 hours.  
• Two in Jackson County, one male in the 50 - 64 age group and one female in the 65 or older age group. 

There are 605 total deaths in the state.

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. 

***The purpose of publishing aggregated statistical COVID-19 data through the OSDH Dashboard, the Executive Order Report, and the Weekly Epidemiology and Surveillance Report is to support the needs of the general public in receiving important and necessary information regarding the state of the health and safety of the citizens of Oklahoma. These resources may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be used in any way that would determine the identity of any reported cases.

Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health.
*As of 2020-08-10 at 7:00 a.m.

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

Using bell peppers and lettuce for wraps is a fun way to increase vegetables on the plate. Lettuce leaves and mini peppers are perfect for a build-your-own Southwestern meal or as appetizers.

Fiesta Lettuce Wraps and Pepper Boats

Source:

Produce For Better Health Foundation

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, and Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, attended the ceremonial bill signing for House Bill 2587, the Nondiscrimination in Health Care Coverage Act, and House Bill 2588, which allows Oklahoma courts to grant guardians the power to consent to withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining procedures.

House Bill 2587 and House Bill 2588 were formally signed into law in May.

Roberts, who chairs the House Public Health Committee, said HB2587 prohibits any state agency from developing an adjusted life-year calculation for individuals with a disability in order to determine their health care coverage. The bill also requires state agencies to consult with organizations advocating for individuals with disabilities and older adults before implementing health coverage changes.

HB2588 requires issuance of a separate court order that contains specific findings of fact and conclusions of law required under the Oklahoma Advance Directive Act to grant authority to a guardian to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment of a ward.

“I was honored to carry these bills during the legislative session, and I believe their impact will be valuable to our most vulnerable Oklahomans,” Roberts said. “I firmly believe these measures will ensure proper care and treatment for individuals. I appreciate Senator Daniels for serving as Senate author of these bills and the Governor for acting quickly to sign these bills into law."

Both bills were carried in the Senate by Daniels.

“These bills reaffirm that Oklahomans believe each individual life has value,” Daniels said. “Those who are elderly, disabled or chronically ill deserve just as much access to care and treatment as others. Their lives must not be reduced to a calculated formula when critical healthcare decisions are being made.”

HB2587 and HB2588 will take effect Nov. 1.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Mike Hunter today sent a letter to congressional leadership, urging both chambers to amend the 1984 Victims of Crime Act to include senior citizens victimized by fraud as eligible for reimbursement by the Crime Victims Fund.

Reimbursements distributed from the Crime Victims Fund are typically reserved for victims of violent crime, not financial or white-collar crimes.

Edith’s Bill, or the Edith Shorougian Senior Victims of Fraud Compensation Act, would direct penalties and fines from deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements into the Crime Victims Fund, and the money would be used to compensate seniors who are victimized by fraud.  

The legislation is named after a Wisconsin senior who was conned out of more than $80,000 by her longtime financial adviser.

Attorney General Hunter said Edith’s Bill protects defrauded seniors without using taxpayer funds.

“This legislation ensures senior citizens are protected if they are taken advantage of financially by a criminal,” Attorney General Hunter said. “Especially now, with the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, these are individuals who may be disconnected from their support system, making them easier targets for criminals. We must make sure we are protecting our most vulnerable from these awful crimes, and making every effort to make them whole if they have been victimized. My colleagues and I encourage Congress to act on this important legislation.”

Last year the Consumer Protection Unit in the Attorney General’s Office filed felony charges in 24 cases, a record for the unit. Sixteen of those cases involved a senior citizen. In cases only involving senior citizens, the unit secured over $370,000 in tentative restitution.  

Also, in 2019, the Consumer Protection Unit hosted or participated in 38 events to inform citizens across the state about scams. The events also discussed organizations that offer support and resources specific to seniors.

In addition to Oklahoma, 43 other state attorneys general signed the letter.

Read the letter, here: .

Stephen T. Post was born on August 5, 1942 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania to D'Andre (Holstein) Post and Gordon Post, Sr. and passed away on August 9, 2020 in Fort Smith, Arkansas at the age of 78.  He was married to Linda (Broughton) Post on September 16, 1984 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Stephen was preceded in death by his parents; Gordon and D'Andre Post. He loved Thoroughbred Horse Racing.

Survivors include his wife; Linda Post, daughter; Karen Surrisco and husband Fran, two granddaughters; Sarah Marshall, Shannon Surrisco, numerous great grandchildren, other relatives and loved ones.

 Stephen’s family will hold a memorial service at a later date.

To sign Stephen T. Post's online guest book, please visit www.mallorymartinfuneralhome.com.

Workforce, Small Business, Education Communities Focus of Letter to Congressional Delegation 

OKLAHOMA CITY -- House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman, today sent a letter on behalf of the Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus to each of the seven members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation to express the caucus’s disagreement with Gov. Kevin Stitt’s assessment that Oklahoma doesn’t need an additional stimulus package. 

“We feel we simply cannot let the governor’s statement stand as the only assessment of Oklahoma’s needs,” Virgin said. “The purpose of this letter is to advocate for the constituents who have reached out to us during this pandemic.

The letter details the struggles of constituents who have reached out to members of the caucus during the pandemic. From Oklahomans recently laid off or returning to work with fewer hours to Oklahoma small business owners who are in desperate need of financial assistance, the House Democratic Caucus has fielded calls and emails from constituents affected by this pandemic in a multitude of different ways.

“The needs of Oklahomans are many,” Virgin said. “We respectfully ask that you ignore the governor’s misguided comments and do what is in your power to bring this money home.”

LINK: Letter to Congressional Delegation

The following couples received their marriage licenses in LeFlore County during the week of August 3-7, 2020:

Buddy Arvil Woodral and Amy Larrea Killian

Kevin Lee Bilyeu and Jessica Ann Snow

Jimmy Leon Bender, Jr. and Sarah Elizabeth Hollan

Jamie Lee Carson and Erica Denise Hunter

Jonathan Lee Houston and Denali Brooke Raines

David Lynn Powell and Brandi N. Willis

Kevin Dale Luman and Maghen Dawn Moody

Dylan Roy Loggains and Megan Alexis Redwine

Nolan Dean Smith and Tawny Nicole Edelbrock Portwood