Kay County sees 40% rise in coronavirus cases- vaccine encouraged

Kay County’s active coronavirus case numbers increased by more than 40% during the week ending Dec. 29, Kay County Health Department officials said Monday. With 180 new cases reported that week, the active case count rose by 41.7%, health officials said.

Forty-three percent of Kay County residents are fully vaccinated against the virus, and 50.7% have taken at least one dose of the vaccine.

The county has had 8,465 cases of the coronavirus since March 2020. The omicron variant of the virus, which some health officials say is more contagious but has milder symptoms than previous variants, was first detected in the Sooner State on Dec. 21. Keith Reed, the state’s interim commissioner of health, said vaccination is the “best way” to gain protection from the virus.

He also encouraged people to get tested for the coronavirus if they feel sick and to wear masks in crowded public places.

State officials reported Dec. 27 that 2,111,009 Oklahomans, about 57% of the state’s eligible population, were fully vaccinated.

More than 569,000 Oklahomans have taken a booster dose. As of Monday, Oklahoma has had 716,851 cases of the virus since the pandemic began, 24,534 of which are active, active, officials said. Statewide, 12,503 people have died from the virus. Blackwell has had 1,102 cases, with 1,017 recoveries and 41 deaths.

Braman has had 50 cases, and no new cases have been reported there in recent weeks. Kaw City has had 118 cases, six of which are active.

No new cases have been reported there in recent weeks, either. Newkirk has had 719 cases, with 690 recoveries and nine deaths. Ponca City has had 6,114 cases, with 5,805 recoveries and 113 deaths. Tonkawa has had 602 cases, with 573 recoveries and 18 deaths.

The state health department does not provide data on coronavirus cases in some of the state’s smallest towns, including Nardin in Kay County. Vaccinations are available for free at some pharmacies and stores across the county, among other locations. For more information on vaccinations, or to schedule a vaccine appointment, visit https://oklahoma.gov/covid19/vaccine-information/ vaccine-faqs.html.