State Health Commissioner Speaks on Testing Partnerships, Expected Texas County Spike

Texas County Total at 541 Cases, 4 Deaths, 264 Recovered

By Miranda Gilbert

Emergency Management PIO

Texas County remains the COVID-19 “hot spot” in the State of Oklahoma and various local, state, and federal agencies are working to strategically manage the ongoing community outbreak. Oklahoma Emergency Management and the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) continue to work with the local COVID-19 Task Force and the Oklahoma Health Commissioner has thanked partners and spoke on the expected spike in cases.

“Over the past week, OSDH has deployed several systems of support into Texas County and the surrounding areas to address a heightened presence of COVID-19. The largest employer in the county, Seaboard Foods, has been a good partner with state agencies by allowing OSDH to test all processing plant employees,” Health Commissioner Gary Cox said. “We are also partnering on guidance and solutions to ensure the company continues doing everything possible to protect its workers. Over the next few days, we expect spikes in our reporting of positive cases due to the significant number of tests processed for Texas County, which is reflective of our increased testing efforts.”

Texas County officials have seen a delay in receiving test results, and another large testing day is scheduled for the community on Saturday, May 16 at the Texas County Activity Center from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Officials expect the spike in confirmed cases to last the next two weeks.

Texas County confirmed 66 more positive COVID-19 tests on Thursday, May 14. The new positive results are for 58 Guymon residents, five Hooker residents, two Texhoma residents, and one Goodwell resident.

Guymon ranks third amongst Oklahoma cities and towns with 434 confirmed cases. Of those cases, 194 have recovered. Hooker now ranks 16th in the state with 59 confirmed cases and 46 recovered.

Oklahoma City has the most cases in the state but added only two new cases today putting them at 787 confirmed cases with 578 recovered. Tulsa added six new cases today and is at 509 with 409 recovered.

Of all Texas County’s 541 confirmed cases, the Oklahoma State Department of Health is reporting 264 recovered in Texas County. OSDH is not reporting hospitalizations for our county COVID-19 cases. For more data on confirmed COVID-19 cases visit the state’s website www.coronavirus.health.ok.gov.

The Texas County Health Department will be hosting another mass drive through testing on May 16 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Texas County Activity Center. Residents are strongly encouraged to remain home and practice social distancing during this community outbreak to help slow the spread until more residents can be tested and quarantined.

An investigation into any positive result is standard and all persons in close contact with the person will be notified by the Oklahoma State Department of Health and advised of quarantine and testing procedure. No other details in these cases were released.

COVID-19 case counts in each Texas County town with positives include:

Cities COVID-19 Cases

Guymon 434

Hooker 59

Tyrone 11

Optima 5

Goodwell 7

Texhoma 21

Hardesty 1

Adams 1

Unspecified 3

All residents are encouraged to execute safety guidelines as advised by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and stay safe at home. If leaving the home for a necessary trip, wear a face covering. Avoid touching your face. Always wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water when returning home, and again after you put away groceries.

Residents should seek testing when experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. The three main symptoms include a fever, shortness of breath, and coughing but not all of these are always present. Those experiencing symptoms are advised to self-quarantine and monitor symptoms daily. Drive-Through testing is offered for FREE by the Texas County Health Department Monday through Thursday for individuals with at least one COVID-19 symptom present, but an appointment is required. Appointments are available by calling TCHD at 580-338-8544. Additional testing is offered by Specialty Clinics of St. Anne’s, Internal Medicine, Xpress Urgent Care, and Memorial Hospital of Texas County.