Second Oklahoma resident dies of COVID-19 as cases increase

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A second person in Oklahoma died of COVID-19 as the number of state residents with the illness caused by the novel coronavirus increased by more than a dozen, health officials said Sunday.

The man who died was in his 50s and lived in Pawnee County, west of Tulsa, the Oklahoma State Department of Health said in a statement. It did not provide further details on the circumstances of his illness and death.

The number of people in the state who have tested positive for the virus increased to 67 Sunday, from 53 the day before. The health department said 11 of those people are hospitalized.

Oklahoma County has the most cases, with 26, following by Cleveland County, with 13, and Tulsa County, with six.

The vast majority of people who contract the virus recover within weeks. It causes only mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but it can lead to more severe illness, including pneumonia, especially in older adults and people with preexisting health problems.

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