News

If you are feeling alone, disconnected or just need help with errands because normal daily life has been upended by the coronavirus, the El Reno Ministerial Alliance wants to hear from you.

Pastor Allen Carson of Wesley United Methodist Church said several members of the Ministerial Alliance have joined to create a hotline for those impacted by the virus outbreak.

Carson said because many people, especially the elderly, are forced to remain in their homes, they may feel alone and need someone to talk with.

Meal service provided by El Reno Public Schools will return starting Monday despite the district not being in session due to the coronavirus epidemic.

As long as the district remains closed, it will operate four pickup locations Monday through Friday from 9 to 11 a.m.

Those sites will be Etta Dale, Rose Witcher, Hillcrest and Roblyer Learning Centers.

The fear of COVID-19 has taken over.

Schools are closed. Churches are offering online services and businesses are suffering.

In Canadian County, two cases of the virus have been reported. City, business and religious officials are working to prevent the spread, which occurs between humans, while hoping for the best and trying to keep calm. 

Most stores haven’t closed, but events are being canceled. With the national, state and city declarations of emergency, citizens are being urged to stay inside or at least refrain from congregating in large groups.

David and Maribeth VonTungeln are home.

The El Reno couple arrived Saturday night after a three-week ordeal that began Feb. 21 when they boarded the Grand Princess cruise ship headed for Hawaii. While returning, the ship was placed under quarantine after a passenger became ill with the coronavirus. That passenger would die and some 21 other passengers on board would reportedly test positive for the virus. The ship, with some 3,500 passengers, sat off the coast of northern California for days while officials worked to figure out how to handle the situation.

Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the El Reno Public School System is “hoping for the best but planning for the worst,” said Superintendent Craig McVay.

On Monday, as McVay waited for word that the State Department of Education would close all public schools at least until April 6, he said the health issue is by far the most talked about topic.

“It’s coronavirus, wall-to-wall,” McVay said.

Cities across the state and the nation have been scrambling to figure out how to best prevent the spread of the disease.

El Reno Mayor and Acting City Manager Matt White took to Facebook Monday afternoon to let citizens know a “state of emergency” has been declared in response to the coronavirus.

White said the Carnegie Library will remain open, but no meetings will be held there. He said the Senior Citizens Center would be closed for a week.

“We’ll take this week-by-week,” White said.

White said water cutoffs for lack of payment would be suspended and municipal court would also be suspended along with any public meetings at City Hall.