Alva Review-Courier -

In the weekly update from the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Covid-19 active cases in Alva increased from one to nine. That's also the total for Woods County, as none of the other communities in the county show any active cases.

The additional cases are the reason why Woods County is one of 32 orange level counties in this week's risk map. There are 38 counties in the lower risk yellow designation. Nine counties are green, the lowest risk level. Woods County is surrounded by three green counties (Alfalfa, Harper and Woodward) and one yellow (Major).

In the July 21 report, active cases for the state of Oklahoma are 5,992, an increase of 73 percent from the 3,458 reported last week.

Alfalfa and Harper counties each have zero active cases in the latest report while Major has one and Woodward County two.

In her report to the Alva Hospital Authority Tuesday, Share Medical Center CEO Kandice Allen said they have seen an increase in the number of people requesting Covid tests. She said they already had three positives the first part of the week although none were hospitalized. Allen urged local people to get Covid vaccinations.

Beadles Nursing Home in Alva is currently locking out visitors due to one or more staff members testing positive.