OKC Officials Mark Next Phase Of Pandemic Response

Oklahoma City mayor David Holt said entering this new chapter – the end of the mask mandate Friday -- is a sign of progress but warns the metro the fight is still far from over.

Holt noted that newly daily cases have declined 90% with hospitalizations coming down around the same percentage.

Each week, OKC is averaging less than 100 new positive COVID-19 cases. Metro hospitals have dipped below 100 hospitalizations at different times this week.

Holt is asking for all eligible candidates to continue to get vaccinated. Vaccines are safe and available, but he does not want to see these vaccines be taken advantage of.

“If you go to a hospital, or worse, you die all because you choose not to get vaccinated. That would really be a tragedy,” Holt said.

Health officials said cannot officially move past this pandemic until we reach herd immunity, which is 70%.

In Oklahoma County, 32% of residents are fully vaccinated at this time.

The Oklahoma City-County Health Department has vaccine appointments on its portal.