Free masks given out in Kay County: Blackwell, Ponca, Newkirk

Free N95 and KN95 masks are available to Kay County residents at several area pharmacies, Kay County Health Department officials said Monday.

Masks are available at Hutton Pharmacy in Blackwell. In Newkirk, they’re available at the Newkirk Family Clinic and the Apple Market. In Ponca City, they’re available at Family Discount Pharmacy, Toni’s West Side Health Mart and Bintz Pharmacy.

State health officials are delivering 500,000 masks to pharmacies across Oklahoma as part of President Joe Biden’s plan to distribute 400 million masks across the nation.

The news comes as coronavirus cases continue to decrease across Oklahoma, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

The state had roughly 20,000 active cases Monday, down dramatically from more than 100,000 cases weeks ago.

Since the pandemic began, Oklahoma has had more than 1 million coronavirus cases. Statewide, 14,056 people have died from the virus.

State officials reported Feb. 7 that 2,191,039 Oklahomans, more than 59% of the state’s eligible population, were fully vaccinated. More than 778,000 Oklahomans have taken a booster dose as of Feb. 7.

Kay County has had more than 11,000 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began in March 2020, the county health department reported Feb. 9. About 53% of all county residents over the age of 5 have had at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

As of Monday, Blackwell had 1,496 cases, with 1,371 recoveries and 41 deaths. Braman had 73 cases, five of which were active. Kaw City had 146 cases, 11 of which were active.

Newkirk has had 972 cases, with 913 recoveries and 10 deaths. Ponca City has had 8,659 cases, with 7,978 recoveries and 125 deaths. Tonkawa has had 818 cases, with 763 recoveries and 19 deaths.

The state health department does not provide data on coronavirus cases in some of the state’s smallest towns, including Nardin in Kay County.

Vaccinations are available for free at some pharmacies and stores across the county, among other locations.

For more information on vaccinations, or to schedule a vaccine appointment, visit https://oklahoma.gov/covid19/vaccine-information/vaccine-faqs.html.