New infections of Covid-19 over the weekend continued to skyrocket across the county — including Washington County.
“Unfortunately, we’ve seen a steady increase in the number of Covid-19 cases locally, particularly over the five-day period including Thanksgiving,” City Manager Mike Bailey said Monday.
The state has logged more than 10,000 new cases since Thanksgiving and the numbers have continued to rise in Washington County as well, with the county reporting 158 new cases over the five-day period. Washington County experienced a 98 percent increase in new cases over last month, according to information published by the Oklahoma State Department of Health
“Our seven-day rolling average is showing we’re averaging 60-plus new cases per 100,000 population per day — and we’re trending higher,” Bailey said. “For reference, for us to return to the ‘low risk’ category, we would need our new cases to be below 15 per 100,000 population. Obviously, we are nowhere near that.”
Bailey urged all residents to follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help curb spread of the virus.
“We have reached a very serious point in this pandemic, which, while potentially life threatening to everyone, is especially dangerous for our most vulnerable citizens, our senior citizens and folks with underlying medical conditions,” he said.
Bailey noted that cases are on track to rise even higher due to get-togethers over the Thanksgiving holiday and more likely to occur over Christmas.
“It is critical that we stay vigilant during what the experts are calling ‘a dark winter,'” he said. “That means we all need to consistently comply with CDC recommendations: maintain distance from everyone outside our household, wear a mask when in public, and wash our hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.
“Hopefully, a vaccine will be available as quickly into the new year as possible and we can return to our normal activities,” he said.
In response to the worsening pandemic the City Council voted on Nov. 23 to require masks in enclosed, City-owned facilities. Bailey said Monday the transition has gone smoothly.
“We’ve had great compliance,” he said. “We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in helping to protect our patrons and employees. It is essential that we remain fully staffed as this ensures continuity in the services we provide, including police, fire and utilities.”
The mask requirement does not apply to children under 10, outdoor facilities such as parks and Pathfinder trails, or to employees who work in an office or vehicle that is not occupied by other people.
