OKLAHOMA CITY — A day after expressing concern about the reporting of a recent decrease in COVID-19 cases, Oklahoma State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Lance Frye says an investigation showed the recent decrease in coronavirus case numbers in the state are valid.
In the past several weeks, new COVID-19 case numbers consistently reported above 3,000, prompting the state health department to investigate whether this week's numbers of just over 1,000 new cases each day for the past few days, were accurate or not.
“The COVID-19 case numbers have been significantly lower this week, which prompted us to investigate their validity as well as our reporting systems out of an abundance of caution. After checking with staff and comparing different sources of information, we can report the data is accurate and our case count has been significantly down this week. This is great news for our state, and follows a trend of decreased cases we are seeing broadly nationwide. We are hopeful this trend will continue and are cautiously optimistic. I want to thank Oklahomans for continuing to be vigilant in taking precautions to safeguard yourself and those around you, including wearing a mask, watching your distance and washing your hands. In addition, hospitalizations statewide are trending down, which we know is a much-needed respite for our health care workers on the frontlines. We are also encouraged with our vaccine rollout strategy and implementation and ask Oklahomans to continue to be patient as we get our most at-risk populations vaccinated as quickly as possible," Frye said. "As always, we will continue to monitor our data and state trends with the hope that our cases will continue to decrease and are committed to sharing that information in a timely and transparent manner with all Oklahomans.”
On Thursday, the state health department reported 2,686 new coronavirus cases and an additional 55 deaths in Oklahoma.
READ MORE: 2,686 new coronavirus cases, 55 additional deaths reported in Oklahoma
During a press conference on Thursday, Mayor G.T. Bynum said he understands frustrated Tulsans when it comes to the vaccine.
Bynum said he's been visiting with both local and state public health officials and assures Tulsans that everyone is frustrated by the pace of the vaccine deployment. Bynum explained the United States is doing something for the first time with deploying the vaccine to all people of the country.
Bynum ended by saying both the Tulsa Health Department and Oklahoma State Department of Health are doing everything they can to get the vaccine deployed as soon as possible.
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