Prison infections push rural towns into weekly coronavirus hotspots

Coronavirus infections at prisons in Vinita and McAlester pushed those areas into the top hotspots of the week in Oklahoma.

Other large increases in active coronavirus cases came in Chickasha, Alva and several ZIP codes in the Oklahoma City area, according to an Oklahoma Watch analysis of data from the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Alva is home to Bill Johnson Correctional Center, which reported 52 inmates and two staff members with coronavirus infections on Friday.

Gov. Kevin Stitt, at a Capitol press conference on Thursday, said Oklahoma was among the first states to stop prison visit...