About COVID-19 COVID-19 is a new disease, caused by a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans. Learn more about COVID-19, THD's role in a pandemic and local situation updates. Background The 2019 Novel Coronavirus, officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization and declared a global pandemic on March 11, is a new respiratory virus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. THD's Role The Tulsa Health Department along with Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is closely monitoring this outbreak and implementing infection control and isolation protocols to prevent the spread of illness in Oklahoma. Situation Updates View local situation updates from City of Tulsa, Tulsa County and the State of Oklahoma.