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REPORTING. ANNOUNCER: THIS IS A KOCO 5 EDITORIAL. >> THE CORONAVIRUS HAS DOMINATED THE HEADLINES ON THIS TELEVISION STATION AND NETWORK NEWSCASTS. WEDNESDAY, THE INTERSECTION OF COVID-19 AND SPORTS WAS HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION HAS CATEGORIZED IT AS A PANDEMIC. NEEDLESS TO SAY, ANXIETY IS HIGH BUT HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE URGING US NOT TO PANIC. THERE ARE SIMPLE THINGS THAT EACH OF US CAN DO TO HELP REDUCE THE SPREAD AND KEEP EVERYONE SAFER. STRAIGHT FROM THE CDC, WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY, AVOID GOING TO WORK IF YOU ARE SICK AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCE. THE ELDERLY AND PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH ISSUES ARE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE AND WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO LIMIT THEIR EXPOSURE. LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE URGING, IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS, DON’T JUST SHOW UP AT YOUR DOCTOR’S OFFICE OR A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM, CALL FIRST AND CONSULT WITH THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS A HOTLINE ESTABLISHED AND WE HAVE PLACED RESOURCES ON THE FRONT PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE AND MOBILE APP. KOCO IS COMMITTED TO BRINGING YOU ACCURATE INFORMATION AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. TOGETHER, WE’LL GET THROUGH THIS. PLEASE STAY CALM. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM Y

Advertisement Gov. Stitt declares state of emergency amid COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, confirms 8th case Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Gov. Kevin Stitt on Sunday declared a state of emergency for Oklahoma as the state's number of confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus cases continues to grow.According to the state of emergency declaration, an eighth case of the COVID-19 coronavirus was confirmed in Oklahoma. The news comes hours after the Oklahoma State Department of Health announced that the total had increased from four to seven, with new cases being confirmed in Cleveland County, Tulsa County and Payne County. Stitt said in a video posted to social media that the eighth case was confirmed from a private testing lab. Officials with the Oklahoma State Department of Health confirmed the case was reported in Kay county."This is a move that ensures our state has all the resources available to manage the effects of COVID-19," Stitt said. "If you are healthy and a low-risk for COVID-19, be smart and use common sense." According to Stitt, private testing labs are up and running in Oklahoma, and the state health department is setting up more ways for people to be screen across the state."If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, stay home, call your doctor or the stat health department," Stitt said.He also urges people to thoroughly wash their hands and stay at home if they're feeling sick.The phone number for the Oklahoma State Department of Health's coronavirus hotline is 877-215-8836.The state of emergency states that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified a high-level potential public health threat."While impact in Oklahoma has continued to be relatively minimal to date, it is increasingly important for Oklahoma to be ready for this threat," Stitt said in the emergency declaration. "Therefore, I believe, after consultation with numerous health experts within my administration, it is now necessary to provide for the rendering of mutual assistance among the state and political subdivisions of the state and to cooperate with the federal government with respect to carrying out emergency functions during the continuance of the state emergency pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Emergency Management Act of 2003."The state of emergency declares and orders the following:This is declared an emergency caused by the impending threat of COVID-19 to the people of this state and the public's peace, health and safety. All 77 of Oklahoma's counties are included in the declaration.The State of Emergency Operations Plan has been activated, and resources of all state departments and agencies available to meet the emergency are committed to the reasonable extent necessary to prepare for and respond to COVID-19 and to protect the health and safety of the public. The efforts will be coordinated by the director of the Department of Emergency Management with comparable functions of the federal government and political subdivisions of the state.State agencies, in responding to the emergency, may make necessary emergency acquisitions to fulfill the purposes of the declaration without regard to limitations or bidding requirements on such acquisitions to include the use of the state purchase card. Such necessary emergency purchases will be capped at $250,000 per transaction. All such purchases must be readily identifiable as such, as following the conclusion of the threat, all such necessary emergency acquisitions will be audited to determine if they were made for emergency purposes.State agencies, in responding to this emergency, may employ additional staff without regard to the classification requirements of such employment.State agencies will continue to follow guidance for interaction with the public provided by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.The state of emergency declaration will be effective until the end of 30 days after Sunday.You can read the emergency declaration in its entirety here.