Oklahoma's 7-Day Average Of New COVID-19 Cases Reaches Highest Level Since Start Of Pandemic

Oklahoma's seven-day rolling average of new COVID-19 cases reached its highest level since the pandemic started on Wednesday.

Wednesday is the seventh straight day the state has reported more than 1,000 cases.

Dr. Dale Bratzler, OU’s Chief COVID Officer, said there could be several reasons for it, and he's starting to notice more cases in rural areas. He said part of the surge could be because of the way numbers are reported.

Two weeks ago, the state started reporting positive rapid antigen tests, something they didn't do previously. He also thought school's reopening and the Labor Day weekend could be an additional factor.

Dr. Bratzler said another big reason for the statewide jump is the increase in cases at prisons and correctional facilities, something Governor Kevin Stitt addressed on Tuesday by recommending increased testing there.

"On Monday alone, the state had 1,101 new cases,” said Dr. Bratzler. “But it was just under 400 of those came from a single county in the state, which was Woodward County, close to the Fort Supply Correctional Facility, that accounted for a big chunk of the new cases in the state."

Dr. Bratzler said hospitalization rates remain manageable right now. More than 66,000 people in Oklahoma have recovered.