Coronavirus vaccines going to at risk Oklahoma inmates

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is now providing coronavirus vaccinations to its most at-risk inmates.

The first shipment of the vaccine arrived Tuesday and vaccinations began for inmates in infirmaries, others susceptible to the virus and inmates 65 and older, the department said in a late Thursday statement.

There are about 21,600 inmates in state custody and a reported 7,301 have tested positive for the virus, according to the department’s website. The department reports 49 deaths possibly due to COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health on Friday reported 431,366 total cases since the pandemic began. The federal Centers for Disease Control reports 7,486 COVID-19 deaths.

Also late Thursday, Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Sean McDaniel announced that the district will return to in-person classes for four days per week starting April 6. Monday of each week continuing as a remote learning day.

Students who previously opted to remain in remote learning will continue to do so for the remainder of the school year.