Oklahoma reports 1,800 news coronavirus cases, 7 more deaths

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma health officials reported more and 1,800 new cases of COVID-19 Monday along with seven more deaths from the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

The number of people in Oklahoma who have died from the coronavirus hit 2,994 Monday, as the state health department reported 1,837 additional confirmed cases of the virus.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health says there have been 356,816 confirmed cases of the virus in the state since the pandemic began. About 40,000 cases were reported as active Monday.

The actual number of cases is believed to be far higher because many people haven’t been tested and some who get sick don’t show symptoms.

Researchers with Johns Hopkins University says nearly 19% of coronavirus tests in Oklahoma have come back positive over the past week. The state has fully vaccinated more than 28,400 people, according to the university.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause severe illness and be fatal.