Heightened concerns over possible coronavirus spread in the wake of state and national emergency declarations over the weekend are having impacts on activities and events across the county.

Hospitals and Senior Care

Following the trends of other hospitals across the state, Mercy Hospital Kingfisher is now limiting patient visitation to only one visitor at a time and restricting visitation hours to a 12-hour period, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Visitors must be over the age of 16 and be symptom-free, according to announced hospital guidelines. Exceptions can be made under certain circumstances.

Following new guidance issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Oklahoma’s skilled nursing facilities and longterm care facilities are suspending all medically unnecessary visits indefinitely.

As a memo released late last week by CMS says, new guidance “directs nursing homes to significantly restrict visitors and nonessential personnel, as well as restrict communal activities inside nursing homes.”

Local family members have been dealing with the visitation ban with regular phone calls and video calls to their loved ones.

Lenten Services Canceled

The Kingfisher Ministerial Alliance has announced cancellation of the March 18 and 25 Lenten services held each Wednesday at First United Methodist Church of Kingfisher through Faster.

Other Church Activities

Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church announced that it would be canceling all “religious education classes, retreats, youth ministry meetings and events, adult formation activities and parish missions” from March 17-April 5.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Okarche announced that its religious education classes and youth group activities also would be canceled, as well as choir practice and church events, including the spring Altar Society social and Knights of Columbus fish fry.

The church will continue to hold doily masses, but they will be moved from the parish hall to the main church and attendees are encouraged to practice “social distancing” - maintaining at least six feet of space between themselves and other congregants.

Pastors of other churches said they were meeting with church leaders this week to determine what changes, if any, wouldbe made to service schedules or formats.

Watch the Times & Free Press Facebook page for developing updates.

Spring Break Disruptions

Some local residents found their spring break plans impacted, with closures at popular destinations like theme parks, ski resorts and casinos.

International travel bans and airport crowding and delays also waylaid plans.

Business Impacts

Oklahoma has not taken the extraordinary step of some other states of closing restaurants and bars by government mandate to prevent crowds from gathering.

But some national chains and local restaurants are talking voluntary steps to limit crowds by offering curbside delivery and even closing dining areas in some instances.