News

El Reno's first confirmed case of the COVID-19 virus has been identified as Associate District Judge Bob Hughey.

Hughey, who oversees the Canadian County Children's Justice Center, has been in self-quarantine at home since March 23.

“I went to the emergency room at Mercy in Oklahoma City,” said Hughey, who was suffering from respiratory issues.

Hughey said he was diagnosed with acute bronchitis but was not tested for the virus at that time.

El Reno fire and police personnel have been cleared to return to work after a report from the state medical examiner showed a patient they came into contact with did not have COVID-19.

However, one confirmed case of the virus has been reported here, said Mayor and Acting City Manager Matt White.

White said the confirmed case is believed to be a male in the 55-65 age range. He said the condition of the man was not available, but he did not believe he was hospitalized, but was in self quarantine.

He said no other information was available.

City of El Reno officials are waiting on word from the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on the status of four police officers and one fireman and their possible exposure to COVID-19.

The first responders were answering a reported medical call of a heart attack on Kerry Lane Tuesday night according to Assistant City Manager Matt Sandidge.

“It was called in as a heart attack,” said Sandidge,

El Reno Mayor and Acting City Manager Matt White said lifesaving measures were taken on the scene.

El Reno Mobile Meals, which serves more than 150 elderly clients with daily meal service, will be closing its doors temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are temporarily closing due to the coronavirus and as soon as we can get back to being around each other and be safe, we will go back to daily deliveries to the full 160 people on our list,” said El Reno Mobile Meals Director Christina Ramsey.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that adults ages 65 and older are at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Some churches within the El Reno Ministerial Alliance are partnering with a restaurant in an effort to help feed individuals and families that are struggling from the impact of COVID-19.

Rev. Allen Carson of Wesley United Methodist Church serves as chairman of the Alliance. He said Primo’s will provide fresh cooked food to El Reno and area residents on Saturdays.

If you’re in trouble, the Ministerial Alliance is here to help.

For years, the various churches in the group have coordinated charity efforts in the community, connecting the needy with appropriate organizations. But with the advent of COVID-19, the team is facing a humanitarian crisis unlike any they’ve faced before.

With businesses shutting down, employees laid off and citizens staying home, the money usually collected by the Alliance is now a little harder to come by.

Since classes have moved to an online format for the remainder of the spring semester and students will not be utilizing the labs, Redlands Community College shared some of its resources with local health-care providers. The college gathered gloves, masks, wipes and safety glasses and delivered them to SSM Health St. Anthony El Reno and Healthcare One Urgent Care and Family Practice.

Students in both public and parochial schools are working online or taking assignments home for the remainder of the school year because of the COVID-19 virus.

Stocking up on essential groceries and other supplies as the COVID-19 virus threat spreads across the country will require consumers to rely on their storm season preparedness skills, but for a longer period of time.

Undoubtedly, many Oklahomans have made the trek to the grocery store to get supplies, which is a good idea, said Barbara Brown, Oklahoma State University Extension food specialist.

CLINTON - The Indian Health Service Clinton Service Unit (CSU) is taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of patients and staff during the national emergency of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

“CSU’s three outpatient clinical facilities of Clinton, El Reno and Watonga Indian Health Centers follow guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect patients and staff from potential exposure to COVID-19,” said Joe Bryant, CSU chief executive officer.