Statement: ‘90% of COVID-19 Positive Inmates Are Asymptomatic’

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, today released the following statement regarding COVID-19 within the Oklahoma Dept. of Corrections:

“Our state has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases, which is fueled by a high number of positive tests in our prison systems.

According to the latest data my office has received from the Oklahoma Dept. of Corrections, 720 inmates are positive for COVID-19 after obtaining nasopharyngeal swab tests. Of those inmates, 89.6% are asymptomatic. Only 75 inmates, which makes up 10.4% of those who tested positive for COVID-19, in our state’s entire prison system, are experiencing any symptoms.

13 of the COVID positive inmates, or 1.8%, are currently hospitalized, but many of them were taken to the hospital for an unrelated condition or procedure and happened to test positive when admitted.

When accounting for the number of symptomatic or hospitalized inmates while considering the number of inmates within the DOC, there are relatively few people who test positive for the virus and experience any adverse effects, such as symptoms or hospitalization.”

Roberts chairs the House Public Health Committee.