Oklahoma Announces up to $250M for Local Coronavirus Costs
Mike Seals - August 6, 2020 11:10 am
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Gov. Kevin Stitt said Thursday that up to $250 million is being made available to cities and counties in Oklahoma to support coronavirus-related expenses.
The funding will be distributed based on a city or county’s population based on 2019 U.S. Census Bureau estimates with about $77 earmarked per capita, Stitt said in a news release.
The state received about $1.5 billion in relief funding with about $1.2 billion available as some $300 million was earmarked to cities and counties with populations of more than 500,000.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health on Wednesday reported 40,654 confirmed coronavirus cases and 566 deaths due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
The true number of coronavirus cases in Oklahoma is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
