Sorry to hear this news, Pete, makes my heart hurt. Please take care of your other family members (and yourself).

Oh Pete, I'm so sorry. I'll definitely keep her in my prayers.



On the "plus" side, it does look like we are close to hitting the peak in terms of cases. MO and AR are already there, and our modeled R(t) - the number of people an infected person infects - is under 1 (though this is all modeling and estimates). We should be seeing cases begin to decline a bit in the next week or so, with hospitalizations peaking a couple weeks after that and deaths a couple weeks after that.

https://www.covidestim.org/us/OK

No offense, but your post comes across rather callously.

Also, your peak prediction model does not take into account children returning to school, football games, indoor events, etc. We are probably not peaking, but reaching a temporary plateau.

FWIW, I just returned from Milwaukee and I went with my aunt to the Wisconsin State Fair (one of her favorite things in the whole world).

Wisconsin has had a pretty strong resurgence in cases and yet that place was absolutely wall-to-wall people with not only almost zero masks anywhere but absolutely zero social distancing or even a light-hearted attempt by the fairgrounds. Like our own fair, it was canceled last year and people were packed in there as if nothing had ever happened and like this would be the last fair forever.

After we went into one building, I just couldn't do it anymore as there was no way to avoid thousands of people right in your face. And as I sat outside in this big park area, multiple people came and sat right up against me.

The Wisconsin fair is very different than what we know; they have massive shoulder-to-shoulder beer gardens and even young parents with kids in strollers were walking around with huge beers. It's all a part of their rich beer culture, but the cumulative result was tens of thousands of people pressed together even while in constant movement and exercising even poorer judgment than would normally be the case.

Their vaccination rate is better than ours but still not good.

It's things like this as we head into fall that have always caused me to be very worried about what the cooler months will bring.

An update from Integris, St. Anthony, Mercy and OU Health on the grim situation in Oklahoma, and its immediate impact on our hospitals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI-ZDlRSc1E

Wanted to catch up on some numbers...

For the week ending last Friday:

14,851 new cases; last several weeks: 13,348; 9,459; 6,569; 3,925; 1,648; 1,270; 1,151; 1,141, 842, 775.
Most new cases in a week since January.

80 additional deaths; last several weeks: 40, 42, 23, 26, 24.

Hospitalizations were +361. Last several weeks: 275, 195, 172, 115, 69, 9, -3.

ICU was +81. Last several weeks: 64, 56, 48, 45, 25, 4, -11.

This week thus far...

First 4 days of new cases: 7,829.

First 4 days of new cases for last week (as documented above as the worst since January): 7,464.


Numbers are still going up even though everything is approaching peaks from last winter.

People are also being hospitalized at a higher rate than at the peak and people of younger age are being much more adversely affected.

Sending all my positive thoughts to your sister, Pete.

Thanks to everyone for the nice thoughts for my sister.

She is doing a bit better today but is still on the ventilator and in critical condition.

Thanks to everyone for the nice thoughts for my sister.

She is doing a bit better today but is still on the ventilator and in critical condition.
Continued prayers!

Prayers ascending for your sister, you and your family. She's also on the prayer list at my church, so there are a bunch of Episcopalians praying for her.

Another coworker of mine has possible Covid exposure and is now quarantined. Has not and WILL not get the vaccine, and will resign his position if the job mandates getting it (which is coming soon). Doesn't trust the Govt, etc.

Prayers for your sister and for a speedy and complete recovery!

Huge surprise here

https://kfor.com/news/local/oklahoma-parents-demand-action-after-kids-are-exposed-to-covid-19-just-days-into-the-school-year/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR2oSAXn80gjXLVyQDkd1aSVBnYJ9Tkm5zFy6EgId ao9yktOg2AGdB4npTs

Keeping your sister in my thoughts, Pete.

2,360 new cases today. Last several Wednesdays: 2,105; 2,160; 1,474; 1,203; 1,082.

7-day average now 2,210.

Hospitalizations are 1,385 (+25).

ICU is 378 (+9).

On a personal note, my poor sweet sister is still on a ventilator but the last two days have seen her oxygen levels rise and there is hope she could come off the vent in the near future.

Far from out of the woods, but in situations like this any positive momentum is a good thing.

Thanks for all the nice words; this is incredibly hard on my family and the many people who love my sister.

Sorry to hear this Pete. It’s one thing to see the numbers, it’s another to have a personal connection to one, especially someone so close and dear. Hoping for a full recovery.

For what it is worth, my two distant relatives who were hospitalized have finally been released home, albeit with oxygen tanks and the works etc. they were in very poor health to begin with. Don’t give up hope.

Agree with you 100% Pete “just get your damn shot”. Society as a whole pays the price for other’s selfishness, and this is a great example of irresponsible selfishness directly impacting others.

It looks like some information on a booster shot came out today. Arstechnica Science: What to know about the us covid booster plan (https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/08/what-to-know-about-the-us-covid-booster-plan-and-why-who-hates-it/)

Some highlights:
- Starts September 20
- Is being distributed basically the same as the first two doses and still free
- aiming for around eight months after second shot
- prioritization groups sounds like will follow similar to initial vaccine (not in article but with the production at higher capacity now like can be rolled through those phases much faster)

I don't mind booster shots for the most vulnerable, but the idea of healthy Americans getting a third shot when so many people in the world haven't gotten their first just seems deeply immoral. The vaccines are still working very well, even if the Delta variant has been a harsher than others. The statistics for the vaccinated are still good.

I don't mind booster shots for the most vulnerable, but the idea of healthy Americans getting a third shot when so many people in the world haven't gotten their first just seems deeply immoral. The vaccines are still working very well, even if the Delta variant has been a harsher than others. The statistics for the vaccinated are still good.

i'm a bit puzzled as to why you would say this... if you trust the experts when they say you need to be vaccinated, then i'd think that you'd trust those same experts when they say that you should get a booster after 8 months.

i'm a bit puzzled as to why you would say this... if you trust the experts when they say you need to be vaccinated, then i'd think that you'd trust those same experts when they say that you should get a booster after 8 months.

I think Dan is trying to say if the initial 2 shots is still effective, what is currently in stock would see better use by shipping out to the entire world vs keeping it in the US for--lack of a better term--entitled people to get a 3rd.

Not necessarily disagreeing with experts.

Clearly, the experts believe the effects of the Covid-19 vaccinations will wane over time, just like a flu shot.

Just like the original vaccine, I'll go get the booster as soon as it is available to me.

I am shocked at the stretches [healthy] people are claiming to avoid getting a vaccine.

The government needs to pay people to get the shot. It is that simple. When I imagine the Venn Diagram of the anti-covid-vax group and low-income individuals, I imagine significant overlap.

If you say we will give you $1000 to get the vaccine. You will defeat the virus spread in USA. Hell, you will have people trying to get it multiple times.

(If this has been answered elsewhere, please forgive)

I am interested in proactively investigating the access to treatments such as monoclonal antibodies in the OkC area. If a fully vaccinated individual tests positive, are there any out-patient clinics providing such service? Have any board members had such a treatment, and if so did it have a positive impact on your individual case? Did your insurance pay for the treatment?

Thanks!

(If this has been answered elsewhere, please forgive)

I am interested in proactively investigating the access to treatments such as monoclonal antibodies in the OkC area. If a fully vaccinated individual tests positive, are there any out-patient clinics providing such service? Have any board members had such a treatment, and if so did it have a positive impact on your individual case? Did your insurance pay for the treatment?

Thanks!

Mercy is offering Regen-COV infusion by PCP referral, if you meet certain conditions:

Mercy Offering New Outpatient Options to Treat COVID-19 Patients in Oklahoma City (https://www.mercy.net/newsroom/2021-08-11/mercy-offering-new-outpatient-options-to-treat-covid-19-patients/)

As for insurance, I'm guessing that just depends on your provider and your plan.

Clearly, the experts believe the effects of the Covid-19 vaccinations will wane over time, just like a flu shot.

Just like the original vaccine, I'll go get the booster as soon as it is available to me.

exactly. if the cdc determines that it's ideal for everyone to get booster shots in the next few months, then i'm going to trust them way more than some random people armchair quarterbacking on twitter who say it's unnecessary.

The priority planing for boosters is basically already done for the most part. If you wait 8 months from your initial dose you will get most people becoming eligible in the same order of priority.

As for 3rd shots, the vast majority of shots that have left the central warehouse areas are not going to be able to be returned. The government chain of custody has been interrupted and there are just going to be huge headaches with sending a wild mix of lot numbers and expiration dates anywhere else in the world. It’s much better to send central batches where you can.

That means that the vaccines that are out in the community and send to companies and states are going to be just as useless to the unvaccinated around the world, regardless of wether they end up in arms as a 3rd dose or in the trash because nobody wanted them.

2,602 new cases today; we are well ahead of last week's pace as cases continue to increase.

7-day average continues to rise at 2,229.

Hospitalizations are 1,415 (+30).

ICU is 379 (+1).

Pete, what surprises me is that more stores are not requiring masks to enter. I would think with the difficulty of keeping workers that they would be concerned about them getting sick. I am not talking about employees masking but the customers. I am limiting my going out and just doing curbside with one small store as an exception but then only going in when few are in that store.

Teachers have been getting assaulted, school board meetings are turning into near-riots over proposed mask mandates. I don’t know that businesses want to expose themselves to the level of increasing violence we are seeing from anti-mask crowds.

Pete, what surprises me is that more stores are not requiring masks to enter. I would think with the difficulty of keeping workers that they would be concerned about them getting sick. I am not talking about employees masking but the customers. I am limiting my going out and just doing curbside with one small store as an exception but then only going in when few are in that store.

Tower Theatre will now require proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within 72 hours of attendance at their shows. This policy will take effect September 8. Wish it were happening sooner for the concert I'm attending, and I hope they will at least require masks at that event, but this is a positive step.

I would hope to see other venues do the same or the entire fall / winter concert season is probably going to shut down again. Already, artists are canceling tours and concerts.

There aren't enough words that wouldn't be asterisk-ed to describe how I feel about these unvaccinated people....

Teachers have been getting assaulted, school board meetings are turning into near-riots over proposed mask mandates. ...

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-tells-states-that-ban-masks-in-schools-to-brace-for-legal-action_n_611d7103e4b0caf7ce2c7848

I just went to Sam's Club and they are once again requiring masks.

I just went to Sam's Club and they are once again requiring masks.

costco was not as of yesterday evening

****Effective Immediately****

Posts from Twitter, Facebook and other random sources will be deleted and the poster banned.

The United States has internationally, respected, non-partisan scientists at the CDC who spend all day, every day studying this pandemic and providing clear guidelines and hard information.

You are free to believe what you want, but you will not be spreading rumors and misinformation here.


If you don't like this policy, feel free to leave and never come back.

Hopeful that we have seen a plateau in Oklahoma

https://www.axios.com/america-delta-coronavirus-cases-43db0419-db2a-4257-9830-c0e3d6f370c9.html

Hopeful that we have seen a plateau in Oklahoma

https://www.axios.com/america-delta-coronavirus-cases-43db0419-db2a-4257-9830-c0e3d6f370c9.html

If you look at the numbers for Oklahoma, that graphic indicates an 8% increase from last week on top of terrible numbers.

They also are using 7-day averages which already represent smoothed-out figures.

Thus far this week compared to the horrific numbers for the same period a week earlier, we are +654 in new cases.


Just because we aren't doubling every week does not mean we have plateaued or even that a plateau is in any way acceptable.

BTW, that same Axios graphic shows a 360% (!!) increase in South Dakota in one week.

The huge Sturgis motorcycle rally started almost exactly two weeks ago: August 6th.

This is exactly what happened last year.


So incredibly, indefensibly idiotic.

Hopeful that we have seen a plateau in Oklahoma

https://www.axios.com/america-delta-coronavirus-cases-43db0419-db2a-4257-9830-c0e3d6f370c9.html

We MAY be seeing a temporary plateau, but people just started returning to schools and universities and fall events. We are about to see a much bigger spike in cases.

Positive rate is still high in OK but going down. Good news as more people are testing to insure they are not infected. I hope to see that number continue to fall.

Is there anywhere to get a quick Saliva test done that's not in the $150-200 range? I figured you guys might know something better than what I'm finding on google.

Is there anywhere to get a quick Saliva test done that's not in the $150-200 range? I figured you guys might know something better than what I'm finding on google.

Saliva, no. The Abbot rapid tests are available in just about every store for 19 bucks. 15 minute results.

Is there anywhere to get a quick Saliva test done that's not in the $150-200 range? I figured you guys might know something better than what I'm finding on google.

Doesn't Walgreen's sell them for like $20?

I don't mind booster shots for the most vulnerable, but the idea of healthy Americans getting a third shot when so many people in the world haven't gotten their first just seems deeply immoral. The vaccines are still working very well, even if the Delta variant has been a harsher than others. The statistics for the vaccinated are still good.

We invested millions (billions?) in develepmont and production of these vaccines. These other countries did not. U.S. citizens should therefore have access to the fullest benefits of these vaccines because otherwise, these doses will be discarded with zero hope for international donation.

i'm a bit puzzled as to why you would say this... if you trust the experts when they say you need to be vaccinated, then i'd think that you'd trust those same experts when they say that you should get a booster after 8 months.

Not disagreeing with the experts at all. However, there is a lot of debate among epidemiologists about whether boosters are needed yet. But if a consensus develops that booster shots are needed then I certainly trust that. My concern is purely moral. Should I get a third vaccine shot before others get their first? I do not.


We invested millions (billions?) in develepmont and production of these vaccines. These other countries did not. U.S. citizens should therefore have access to the fullest benefits of these vaccines because otherwise, these doses will be discarded with zero hope for international donation.

I disagree. Every person deserves their health and dignity. If millions of booster shots go to Americans, it will likely delay distribution to poorer countries. I don’t believe my life is more important than someone who was born in a different country. Moreover, millions of doses of vaccines are even being produced in countries like South Africa and then shipped to European countries. It’s wrong.

Even without a booster, evidence still suggests that I should have strong antibodies for a while. Again, I have no qualms with a booster shot for the most vulnerable.

^

By that same logic, you should haven't taken the first vaccines since you are young, healthy, affluent by any global standard and have access to excellent healthcare.

The U.S. has had the vaccines before everyone else every step of the way, and that isn't going to change.

I don’t believe that’s the same logic. Getting a booster is liking getting seconds before your guests had a chance to get any food. It doesn’t have to be that way. It’s a choice.

I don’t believe that’s the same logic. Getting a booster is liking getting seconds before your guests had a chance to get any food. It doesn’t have to be that way. It’s a choice.

If the government does not consider you fully vaccinated without the third dose and therefore they will not let you fly on an airplane, will you stand by your principals or will you give in to the hypothetical mandate?

I don’t believe that’s the same logic. Getting a booster is liking getting seconds before your guests had a chance to get any food. It doesn’t have to be that way. It’s a choice.

Didn't you already have seconds?

Not disagreeing with the experts at all. However, there is a lot of debate among epidemiologists about whether boosters are needed yet. But if a consensus develops that booster shots are needed then I certainly trust that. My concern is purely moral. Should I get a third vaccine shot before others get their first? I do not.



I disagree. Every person deserves their health and dignity. If millions of booster shots go to Americans, it will likely delay distribution to poorer countries. I don’t believe my life is more important than someone who was born in a different country. Moreover, millions of doses of vaccines are even being produced in countries like South Africa and then shipped to European countries. It’s wrong.

Even without a booster, evidence still suggests that I should have strong antibodies for a while. Again, I have no qualms with a booster shot for the most vulnerable.
Where do you get that it is an either or decision? This moral highroad you espouse may make make you feel superior, but also fails to realistically address the situation. It’s not just about sending doses. It’s about distribution systems, willingness to take the vaccine, storage capabilities and other issues as well. Help get your ignorant anti vax neighbors to take their shots here and help keep our economy strong so we CAN help others.

Where do you get that it is an either or decision? This moral highroad you espouse may make make you feel superior, but also fails to realistically address the situation. It’s not just about sending doses. It’s about distribution systems, willingness to take the vaccine, storage capabilities and other issues as well. Help get your ignorant anti vax neighbors to take their shots here and help keep our economy strong so we CAN help others.

Because that's how basic supply chains work. Vaccine production plants can only produce so much solution/packaging used for vaccines. Every vial diverted for a third shot for otherwise healthy folks based on controversial Israeli data is a vial taken away from at risk people in developing countries.

https://i.imgur.com/3OP7xUR.png

A quote from the CDC director from during yesterday’s briefing, “reports from our international colleagues including Israel suggest there is an increased risk of severe disease amongst those vaccinated early.”

I recommend looking out for any signs of severe disease if you were vaccinated early.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ciVGAPuruoQ&t=1020s

^

And the reason they are now suggesting a booster shot.

Is there anywhere to get a quick Saliva test done that's not in the $150-200 range? I figured you guys might know something better than what I'm finding on google.This was on a KFOR story yesterday.

Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma is offering drive-thru COVID-19 molecular laboratory and rapid antigen testing at no cost to patients at its headquarters, located at 225 N.E. 97th St. in Oklahoma City.

The drive-thru is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. On Saturday, the drive-thru will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This was on a KFOR story yesterday.

Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma is offering drive-thru COVID-19 molecular laboratory and rapid antigen testing at no cost to patients at its headquarters, located at 225 N.E. 97th St. in Oklahoma City.

The drive-thru is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. On Saturday, the drive-thru will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

don't know the cost but there is also drive thru covid testing and anti body testing in the Crest parking lot at 15th/164th and sante fe in Edmond ..

edited to correct ..

There’s also one at the Crest at 164th and Santa Fe

There’s also one at the Crest at 164th and Santa Fe

that is the one i drove past yesterday .... .thanks i corrected my post ..

3 of the Crests have testing.... Don't remember the 3rd but another one of the 3 is at the Crest in Yukon.

don't know the cost but there is also drive thru covid testing and anti body testing in the Crest parking lot at 15th/164th and sante fe in Edmond ..

edited to correct ..

My wife had to go twice, in two weeks, due to exposures at work, and I think she said they process your insurance if you have it. Don't know if they charge the uninsured.