OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma’s official count of coronavirus hospitalizations hit a new high Friday, topping 950 people and beating the previous one-day record set a day earlier as COVID-19 continues to surge.
At least 956 people were in Oklahoma hospitals with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, according to the state state Department of Health. Total hospitalizations rose by 46 from the record 910 reported Thursday.
Johns Hopkins University data showed the average daily number of both new cases and deaths in Oklahoma have risen during the past 14 days. The average number of cases increased from 1,028 on Oct. 8 to 1,235 on Thursday, while the average number of daily deaths rose from about seven to just more than 11 during the period.
Oklahoma health officials reported 1,373 new cases and 13 additional deaths Friday. That totals 113,856 cases and 1,234 deaths since the pandemic began in March.
Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday extended his existing emergency order for the pandemic by 30 days. Oklahoma does not have a statewide mask mandate.
“This health crisis still exists, and still needs to be addressed in various ways by executive order,” Stitt stated in his order.
The health department reported 15,132 active cases of the virus and that 97,490 people have recovered.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in a few weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
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