The state of Oklahoma now has a confirmed case of the COVID-19 coronavirus, Gov. Kevin Stitt and health officials announced Friday during a news conference in Tulsa County.The case was reported in Tulsa County, and the patient is a man in his 50s who recently traveled to Italy. He returned through Tulsa International Airport on Feb. 23. He started showing symptoms Feb. 29, at which time the state Health Department became involved. The man currently is being quarantined at home, Stitt said, and public health officials are closely monitoring suspected cases. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, there are currently four people under investigation for possible coronavirus, pending test results. Check the latest coronavirus update here. Stitt emphasized the state’s preparedness in dealing with the virus and noted that far more people have died from the flu this year than the coronavirus. “First and foremost, I want to stress that our public health system is working,” Stitt said. “At this time, there’s no evidence of community spread, and the risk to the general public remains low,” he said.The state now has the capability to conduct coronavirus tests rather than sending samples to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Stitt said. Five people have been tested for the virus and have been cleared. Four people are under investigation as suspected cases and are awaiting results, Health Commissioner Gary Cox said. “It’s important for us to remember that we’ve done this before,” Cox said, listing the public health threats the state has survived over the years. “So we’ve learned many lessons that we can bring to bear to deal with the situation that we currently are in.”Cox recommended that anyone who is planning on traveling for spring break carefully consider their destination. Public health officials discourage the general public wearing face masks. They said anyone who suspects they have coronavirus call their doctor and not visit the emergency room.

The state of Oklahoma now has a confirmed case of the COVID-19 coronavirus, Gov. Kevin Stitt and health officials announced Friday during a news conference in Tulsa County.

The case was reported in Tulsa County, and the patient is a man in his 50s who recently traveled to Italy. He returned through Tulsa International Airport on Feb. 23. He started showing symptoms Feb. 29, at which time the state Health Department became involved.


The man currently is being quarantined at home, Stitt said, and public health officials are closely monitoring suspected cases.

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, there are currently four people under investigation for possible coronavirus, pending test results. Check the latest coronavirus update here.

Stitt emphasized the state’s preparedness in dealing with the virus and noted that far more people have died from the flu this year than the coronavirus.

“First and foremost, I want to stress that our public health system is working,” Stitt said.

“At this time, there’s no evidence of community spread, and the risk to the general public remains low,” he said.

The state now has the capability to conduct coronavirus tests rather than sending samples to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Stitt said.

Five people have been tested for the virus and have been cleared. Four people are under investigation as suspected cases and are awaiting results, Health Commissioner Gary Cox said.

“It’s important for us to remember that we’ve done this before,” Cox said, listing the public health threats the state has survived over the years. “So we’ve learned many lessons that we can bring to bear to deal with the situation that we currently are in.”

Cox recommended that anyone who is planning on traveling for spring break carefully consider their destination.

Public health officials discourage the general public wearing face masks. They said anyone who suspects they have coronavirus call their doctor and not visit the emergency room.