Oklahoma health update to add more than 1,000 COVID deaths

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — State health officials say the state is reconciling its record of Oklahoma COVID-19 deaths with those reported by federal officials. The Oklahoma State Department of Health says it’s adding more than 1,000 deaths from the coronavirus Monday to line up its toll with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

State epidemiologist Dr. Jolianne Stone said on Thursday that it’s part of an annual review performed by all states.

The health department, which investigates each death, has for months reported the CDC’s provisional death count based on death certificates.

The state health department on Friday reported a pandemic toll of 10,826 deaths.

The number of deaths reported for Kay County stands at 148 as of the morning of October 16th, with 20 of those being added between August and October after holding steady at 128 for months prior to that period.