Covid-19 in OKC (coronavirus)

[jn1780]

There has been a noticeable decline in hospitalizations over the past few days. We're down to July levels.
Nationally, were almost down to the early summer low.

Today is the first day of full reporting across the country so it will be interesting if things are still trending down despite an increase from schools. If we only see a small spike two weeks from now, i think its pretty clear we went down the same path as Sweden despite our 'best' efforts and hit the suppression ceiling.

[jedicurt]

There has been a noticeable decline in hospitalizations over the past few days. We're down to July levels.
Nationally, were almost down to the early summer low.

Today is the first day of full reporting across the country so it will be interesting if things are still trending down despite an increase from schools. If we only see a small spike two weeks from now, i think its pretty clear we went down the same path as Sweden despite our 'best' efforts and hit the suppression ceiling.

except with all of the parties from labor day. we will probably see another increase like we did after memorial day.

[Pete]

Hospitalizations and deaths are lagging indicators that follow increased cases about 2-4 weeks.

With the recent surge in cases and a strong trend upward, you can bet those numbers will start to head up again.

[d-usa]

I think it might also be an issue with the urban rural divide creating two separate graphs for the state. The urban areas have treated down, with the hospitalizations following and deaths declining as well. The rural areas have climbed rapidly, and the hospitalizations won’t react to that for another couple of weeks.

And this is where things will also get pretty rough, with large increases in cases in areas with no real ICU options.

[Pete]

876 new cases reported today.

7-day rolling average now at 830.

9 additional reported deaths.

[Bill Robertson]

While not good yesterday’s and today’s new cases aren’t as high as I expected with adding rapid tests to the results.

[Pete]

Other than a 10-day period in late July and early August, the 7-day rolling average is the highest it's ever been and is going up.

With the Labor Day break and the on-going effects of restarting school, I wouldn't be surprised if we are back to all-time highs shortly.

We had 6 months to get out in front of this and now are heading into the colder months at very high levels of infection and all trends heading up. This continues to look like a complete disaster.

[Pete]

‘Mask Up OKC’ drive-thru disposable mask giveaways planned for September in Oklahoma City
09/09/2020

The City of Oklahoma City, OKC-County Health Department (OCCHD) and Greater Oklahoma City Chamber are hosting a series of drive-thru disposable face mask giveaway events.

The events are on Saturday mornings in September to help Oklahoma City residents prevent the spread of COVID-19 and follow OKC’s mask requirement. Disposable face masks will be distributed at the events while supplies last. Proof of residency is not required.

“I’m proud residents are doing their part to wear their masks and slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Mayor David Holt. “We can’t let our guard down. Wearing a mask is one of the most effective steps we can take to reduce the spread of the virus. Mask up, OKC!”

The distribution will be drive-thru only. Each vehicle will receive one box of 50 disposable masks.


Sept. 12 from 9-11 a.m.
Wiley Post Park Events Center, 2021 S Robinson Ave.
Police and Fire Training Center, 800 N Portland Ave.


Sept. 19 from 9-11 a.m.
Southern Oaks Community Center, 400 SW 66th Street
Classen SAS at Northeast High School, 3100 N Kelley Ave.


“Face coverings are key to slowing the spread of the coronavirus,” said OCCHD Director Dr. Patrick McGough, DNP. “Cases have declined in the metro since Oklahoma City’s emergency mask order was first put in place July 17, and I commend the Oklahoma City Council for extending the ordinance, giving our community more time to slow the spread of the virus.”

CARES Act funding and donations of 20,000 masks by RFIP and 60,000 masks by Bank of America provided the masks for the events.

“The health and safety of our employees, clients and our community remain our top priorities during this health and humanitarian crisis,” said Tony Shinn, Bank of America market president, Oklahoma City. “Partnering with local officials to identify and distribute face masks to areas that are at higher risk from the virus, such as low-to-moderate income families unable to acquire proper masks, and communities of color, in addition to, nonprofits, schools and health centers serving these populations is one way we demonstration our commitment.”

Oklahoma City’s mask ordinance is in place until at least Oct. 20. Everyone age 6 and up is required to wear face coverings in indoor public places, with narrow exceptions. Read more about the ordinance at covid19.okc.gov, including frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Public health officials say face coverings are key to slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Cases have declined in the metro since Oklahoma City’s emergency mask order was first put in place July 17.

Visit covid19.okc.gov for the latest on COVID-19 in Oklahoma City, including data, resources and links to reliable information.

[oklip955]

Some parent groups of children in Edmond and Deer Creek schools are pushing for a return to traditional in classroom teaching. If this happens then how much more will the numbers go up. We can see what is happening on some college campus.

[BoulderSooner]

Some parent groups of children in Edmond and Deer Creek schools are pushing for a return to traditional in classroom teaching. If this happens then how much more will the numbers go up. We can see what is happening on some college campus.

schools need to go to 5 days a week

[Bill Robertson]

Some parent groups of children in Edmond and Deer Creek schools are pushing for a return to traditional in classroom teaching. If this happens then how much more will the numbers go up. We can see what is happening on some college campus.

Stillwater parents also.

[soonerguru]

I think it might also be an issue with the urban rural divide creating two separate graphs for the state. The urban areas have treated down, with the hospitalizations following and deaths declining as well. The rural areas have climbed rapidly, and the hospitalizations won’t react to that for another couple of weeks.

And this is where things will also get pretty rough, with large increases in cases in areas with no real ICU options.

It doesn't really work that way. There are only a handful of decent rural hospitals in the state. Any increases coming from rural areas will impact our large metro-area hospitals.

I am not sure if Mayor Holt or OKC City County Health Department count hospitalizations originating from our county or just hospitalizations within our county. It would be helpful to note that.

Also, I realize we are talking about statewide numbers. My point is that if hundreds of people from Goteba and Wewoka suddenly need to be hospitalized, it is going to impact the urban areas.

[Bunty]

It doesn't really work that way. There are only a handful of decent rural hospitals in the state. Any increases coming from rural areas will impact our large metro-area hospitals.

I am not sure if Mayor Holt or OKC City County Health Department count hospitalizations originating from our county or just hospitalizations within our county. It would be helpful to note that.

Also, I realize we are talking about statewide numbers. My point is that if hundreds of people from Goteba and Wewoka suddenly need to be hospitalized, it is going to impact the urban areas.

If plenty of older people, such as those past age 65, in rural areas are taking necessary precautions, then their shouldn't need to be many hospitalizations. Case in point, Stillwater Regional Hospital is in a rural area and only has 4 covid patients. Only 2 are in ICU. Total ICU beds 16, 8 used.

[d-usa]

It doesn't really work that way. There are only a handful of decent rural hospitals in the state. Any increases coming from rural areas will impact our large metro-area hospitals.

I am not sure if Mayor Holt or OKC City County Health Department count hospitalizations originating from our county or just hospitalizations within our county. It would be helpful to note that.

Also, I realize we are talking about statewide numbers. My point is that if hundreds of people from Goteba and Wewoka suddenly need to be hospitalized, it is going to impact the urban areas.

Hence the comments about no real good options in rural areas. It will quickly tax rural hospitals, and the “feed critical patients to the city” pipeline will become very stressed very quickly.

There are still only so many staffed ICU beds in the metro areas, so it will adversely impact those metro populations. OKC might have lower rates, but if someone has a stroke and needs an ICU bed it won’t matter if the COVID case currently in the bed is from OKC or Burns Flat.

This may result in rural hospitals who are used to patients with lower acuity levels having to hold onto them in IMC or MS beds. And with staff who may not have that experience or specialized training having to care for them. This of course then means fewer beds for the “normal” patients in areas where hospital beds are already at a premium.

Transporting patients to the ICU from rural to urban areas also requires EMS services. Rural areas may only have BLS services, or a very low number of ACLS rigs. If those rigs are running transfer trips to the metro areas, they are not available to respond to emergencies.

It has the potential for a big domino effect.

[d-usa]

Some parent groups of children in Edmond and Deer Creek schools are pushing for a return to traditional in classroom teaching. If this happens then how much more will the numbers go up. We can see what is happening on some college campus.

From my limited insight into the return to learn committee, it sounds like Deer Creek won’t return for another few weeks at the earliest. They want to make sure the trend for Oklahoma County holds, and they want to avoid having to switch back and forth every few weeks. There is a benefit to stability rather than having to change the learning system every couple weeks.

[d-usa]

If plenty of older people, such as those past age 65, in rural areas are taking necessary precautions, then their shouldn't need to be many hospitalizations. Case in point, Stillwater Regional Hospital is in a rural area and only has 4 covid patients. Only 2 are in ICU. Total ICU beds 16, 8 used.

1) when did the numbers for Stillwater and the surrounding counties begin to rise?

2) I simply cannot understand the constant argument to just basically block all 65+ folks away until this is all over. How many grandparents are primary caregivers of children in this State? How many 65+ folks are still having to work full time? How many 65+ people are living at home with their kids and grandkids who are having to care for them while also having to work in the community and go to school? How many 65+ folks are living in multigenerational households? The whole argument just seems to boil down to “its old people’s job to keep safe, why should I have to do anything about them”.

[Bill Robertson]

Other than a 10-day period in late July and early August, the 7-day rolling average is the highest it's ever been and is going up.

With the Labor Day break and the on-going effects of restarting school, I wouldn't be surprised if we are back to all-time highs shortly.

We had 6 months to get out in front of this and now are heading into the colder months at very high levels of infection and all trends heading up. This continues to look like a complete disaster.

The rolling average is going to be higher with adding rapid tests. The trend clock had to be reset yesterday and tracking the new average can’t start until next week.

Yeah, the numbers regardless are going up with schools opening in person and groups having gatherings just like the world was normal. Our church is going back to the normal weekly schedule for everything next week and it’s a large church. A Miata group that I’m part of is going ahead with a large get together next weekend. And on and on and on. People obviously just aren’t as worried about it as some of us are.

[soonerguru]

If plenty of older people, such as those past age 65, in rural areas are taking necessary precautions, then their shouldn't need to be many hospitalizations. Case in point, Stillwater Regional Hospital is in a rural area and only has 4 covid patients. Only 2 are in ICU. Total ICU beds 16, 8 used.

Are you suggesting that no one from Payne County is in an OKC hospital? And again, how can people who are older completely prevent coming into contact with others? What if they have kids in their household?

[Jersey Boss]

1) when did the numbers for Stillwater and the surrounding counties begin to rise?

2) I simply cannot understand the constant argument to just basically block all 65+ folks away until this is all over. How many grandparents are primary caregivers of children in this State? How many 65+ folks are still having to work full time? How many 65+ people are living at home with their kids and grandkids who are having to care for them while also having to work in the community and go to school? How many 65+ folks are living in multigenerational households? The whole argument just seems to boil down to “its old people’s job to keep safe, why should I have to do anything about them”.

A prelude to the "Purge".

[soonerguru]

And so it begins:

Mustang School Employee Dies of Covid 19

https://oklahoman.com/article/567119...-complications

[OKCRT]

A prelude to the "Purge".

Every person in the US that has had the virus and has good plasma should be required to donate. Then any person that has underlying conditions should be required to take the antibodies. Also anyone that has just small particles of the virus but not enough to spread it or get sick should not be counted in the daily numbers of positives. I read an article where a good % of the positives reported don't have enough of the virus to spread it or even show symptoms. Those positives could be thrown out the window and the numbers would come way way down. We could turn these numbers around in a hurry and everyone could get back to normal.

[d-usa]

We can’t even make masks mandatory without people screaming for a violent overthrow of the government, and we should mandate invasive procedures on survivors of a disease that people won’t even wear a mask for? Never going to happen, and honestly people shouldn’t be forced to have a risky procedure in order for some company to make money producing a treatment.

Just because somebody doesn’t have symptoms right now, doesn’t mean there isn’t damage or other consequences. Asymptomatic spreaders are also still a thing.

Drunk driving cases would go way down if we throw out cases where they never got in a wreck and didn’t get hurt either.

[Pete]

I read an article where a good % of the positives reported don't have enough of the virus to spread it or even show symptoms. Those positives could be thrown out the window and the numbers would come way way down. We could turn these numbers around in a hurry and everyone could get back to normal.

Ridiculous.

We are now close to 200,000 U.S. deaths in less than 6 months, and it would be way worse had precautions not been taken.

[oklip955]

As far as isolating those over 65yo, what about those close to 65, or 60? What if one person that age or around that age lives out in the country? What do they do for groceries and other needed items? No delivery services. Not everyone around that age has family close by, many have friends around the same age, or younger friends that have to deal with work, kids schooling at home, and other issues so not able to help. ARe older people and some of the elderly dont have computers or smart phones. They and I know of some who have never used a computer. What is the answer for them. Not all want to move into town, and sell their homes with land or enjoy living in a smaller town. Oklahoma has lots of smaller towns. Many of these don't have grocery stores or hardware stores. Anyway, just want to throw this out.

[jedicurt]

I read an article where a good % of the positives reported don't have enough of the virus to spread it or even show symptoms.

except that every medical expert in virology and epidemiology are saying that asymptomatic spread appears to be the biggest cause for spread.... so your article was wrong