Covid-19 in OKC (coronavirus)

[d-usa]

Thanks.

[kukblue1]

Well I went to Grand casino today between 11:30 and 2:00. It was pretty empty social distancing is really not an issue. I played a little downstairs and then I went upstairs and I would say the upstairs part only had maybe a total of ten people. The old convention center or whatever that other room used to be they took all the slot machines out of there the upstairs non-smoking section was still up there it only had like two people in it. So from a social distancing standpoint it's fine however cleanliness not so much I seen a lot of slot machines that had cigarette Ash on them. Most people weren't wear a mask and most were smoking that was about the only thing that bothered me was the smoking part. I probably never came within 25 ft of another person like I said it was pretty empty. There were the occasional somebody passes you by when walking but that contacts less than 10 seconds

Oh and I would like to add that when I did leave about 2:00 it was starting to pick up and get a little bit busier. They had one drink area open I think it was in the buffet but I never went to it. They did take your temperature when you went in. like I said my biggest issue was probably the cleanliness they are not cleaning every machine after every use luckily I know where the bathrooms are and I wash my hands every 30 minutes

[Mott]

On a car road trip, stops in Little Rock and Nashville, okay, the most liberal urban areas, and there is lack of masks. As we drove around, I commented to the wife, the lack of masks in some areas, and how in OKC, everyone seems to have a mask hanging on their rear view mirror, but not in Arkansas, and Tennessee. Is the glass half empty, or half full?

[soonerguru]

“Herd mentality.” ROFLMFAO.

[pw405]

Took a little longer before posting my trademarked ™ graphs, as I wanted to get a few more days under the new reporting standards that include rapid tests in the daily case count. All in all - not seeing a meaningful change in the trends.

Summary
September cases shaping up to set a new record, while total September deaths on track to set a new 2nd place record:



Averages:

Average cases continue to climb with the 7 day now at 869 cases. The highest average since August 5th. Some of this could be the result of including rapid tests, but the new value seems to follow the general upward trend of the last 3 weeks. Deaths made a pretty dramatic dip all the way to 5.9, but have since climbed back to 8.3 deaths/day:


Same metrics, but going back to April 1st for reference:



The different duration case count averages are showing much the same trend we've seen since the end of August. The shortest average leads the medium, and the medium leads the longest - implying that spread has accelerated and continues to do so. Of important note here, is that the 14 and 21 day averages still contain 7 or 14 days worth of cases that do not include the rapid tests in the daily total.



Testing

The % of positive tests is still at 10%... an interesting note is that a new metric showed up in this weeks report. A "John Hopkins % positivity", which appears to be slightly lower

[Bunty]

Local Update From Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce - Mythbusters Edition

"Only college kids are getting COVID in Stillwater. It's not a risk for the rest of us."

Not true. Yes, the highest portion of cases in Stillwater is among the 18-35 age range. But more than 50% of the population of Stillwater is 18-35. Our median age in Stillwater is 24 years old. The age group of people getting COVID is the same age range who work in offices with you, teach in local schools, serve in restaurants, and volunteer at your church. There is not a separate group of "college kids" in Stillwater that doesn't come in contact with the rest of the community. This is a small city--we all interact together, and we are all at risk for catching contagious diseases from each other.

"If I want to take the risk of going to a large gathering/not wearing a mask/putting my mouth on the water fountain spout, my decision only affects me."

Not true. COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease. According to the state epidemiologist, Payne County has a very high rate of contagion--that is, the number of people infected by each positive case. We have one of the highest per capita infection rates in the country. That's happening because people who don't realize they are carrying the virus are going out and interacting with lots of other people in lots of places. You are not just taking a personal risk. You are putting other people at risk. And you have no idea how vulnerable those other people are. So even if you're healthy, the person you give it to might not be.

"Hospitalization numbers aren't very high. No one in my family/at my office/in my school has COVID. We should be able to return to normal."

We have been taking precautions against COVID as a community for six months. Overall, Stillwater has been very proactive in keeping the virus at bay. That's likely part of the reason we've seen relative success in avoiding more serious ramifications. If the precautions being taken are helping, and the virus is still out there, it does not make sense to stop taking those precautions.

I know we are all tired of this pandemic and tired of having to disrupt our lives for the good of the community as a whole. Everyone has lost something during this time. People have lost their jobs and their businesses. Kids are missing their classrooms. Athletes are missing games. Weddings have been postponed. And over 900 Oklahomans have lost their lives because of this virus.

We are all making sacrifices, and we should all recognize and value what each member of our community has lost. When we understand that this is a COMMUNITY-WIDE problem, we will also realize it requires a COMMUNITY-WIDE solution. Each and every one of us must commit to reducing the spread of COVID-19. Wear your mask, avoid crowds, maintain physical distance from others, wash your hands. Please be willing to make these personal sacrifices for the good of your neighbors.

[Bunty]

So it would be interesting to know how people in Stillwater think how they came down with covid. Were they seldom wearing masks in public? Were they wearing masks in restaurants in Stillwater, except while eating at tables? Had they been at a bar? Do they think they caught it where they live? I think answers to these questions are important.

[soonerguru]

Man that Stillwater mayor has a way with words. Big fan here.

[Bunty]

The Stillwater News Press editorial thinks the local decision not to allow Stillwater High School kids to play football is unfair to which I agree as long as team members don't come down with covid:

https://www.stwnewspress.com/opinion...316b2a65b.html

[Bunty]

Man that Stillwater mayor has a way with words. Big fan here.

I agree and wouldn't vote yes to recall him, if the recall petition is successful. Recall elections can cost up to $10,000 or more in taxpayer dollars. They are always quite a waste of taxpayer dollars as long as the elected person subject to recall has not been convicted of an actual crime.

[Pete]

Wanted to share my Covid-19 testing experience.

I've been feeling under the weather for a few days and have a family wedding coming up, so I wanted to make sure I wasn't infected.

I googled 'Covid-19 testing' and the Mercy Go Health location in NIchols HIlls Plaza popped up, among others. I was able to register a time slot on-line that was about 30 minutes out, so I drove over and went right in (wearing a mask, of course).

The nurse took my vitals, as I had already indicated I was concerned about the coronavirus. Then I got the long cue-tip up my nose for a count of 10; holy cow, that was unpleasant. In case you didn't know, it goes all the way up into your sinus cavity and provides a sensation that is difficult to describe. A doctor came in to listen to my lungs and look in my ears and throat. He indicated all seemed well.

I went on Monday night about 7PM and they just called with my test result, thankfully negative.

It only took about a day and a half from testing to notification.

[mkjeeves]

Covered by insurance? No cost? How did that work? Would they have tested you if you didn’t feel off? I’ve wondered about getting tested before mixing with others.

[Pete]

Covered by insurance? No cost? How did that work? Would they have tested you if you didn’t feel off? I’ve wondered about getting tested before mixing with others.

It was covered by Blue Cross / Blue Shield but I won't know my part of that until I get a bill.

The Mercy Go website says something like "due to limited testing supplies asymptomatic patients will not be tested for Covid-19". It also said if you had symptoms they preferred you to do a video consultation first.

But there was also some contradicting info on their website, so I reserved my time slot and specified 'Covid-19 related' from the on-line registration menu.

I asked the nurse if they were constrained on testing and she said they had been for a while but that is no longer the case.


Not knowing the cost to me is troubling but I felt like I needed to be tested right away.

[Pete]

I must say, after all this time the fact that this whole testing thing is still generally unclear is quite troubling.

I have good health insurance and more or less just ignored what it said on Mercy's site and I'm still not sure how much I'll be charged.

Getting tested anywhere else was even more confusing.


Still way too many barriers for testing and I suspect there are still tons of positive cases running around without knowing.

[mkjeeves]

I must say, after all this time the fact that this whole testing thing is still generally unclear is quite troubling.

I have good health insurance and more or less just ignored what it said on Mercy's site and I'm still not sure how much I'll be charged.

Getting tested anywhere else was even more confusing.


Still way too many barriers for testing and I suspect there are still tons of positive cases running around without knowing.

Yeah, it still seems like a mess. I was having some breathing distress a few weeks ago I ultimately decided was a combination of asthma and having used some DIY vinegar and soap weedkiller a couple of days before but...I looked at the time to see about a test and the web interface for whatever local hospital it was at the time basically said without a high fever, stay home and quarantine unless you are about dead, then check back in. I waited it out and did get better in the next 24 hours.

I've had two friends test positive when they thought they had a run of the mill sinus infection. One got over it in about the same time frame as getting over a sinus infection. His wife lived with him at the other end of the house and did not get it. The other one is still having lingering issues a month later. 60+ age across the board.

[sooner88]

I've had the rapid test done a few times at First Med Urgent Care, and from our understanding it is covered entirely by insurance, but it is unclear and the nurses don't have an answer for you either. We're hoping to not receive bills from insurance for multiple tests. The testing process at First Med, however, was painless (aside from the swab all the way up your nose). You stay in your car and they come out to you, and bring you your results in 25 minutes or less.

[Pete]

I've had two friends test positive when they thought they had a run of the mill sinus infection. One got over it in about the same time frame as getting over a sinus infection. The other one is still having lingering issues a month later.

I thought I had a sinus infection as well (and probably do) but after a few days it occurred to me my symptoms were similar to Covid-19 and I wanted to make sure I didn't infect anyone else.

Allergies have been very bad across the board this summer and that has probably led to lots of people assuming allergies when they actually had coronavirus.

[Pete]

I've had the rapid test done a few times at First Med Urgent Care, and from our understanding it is covered entirely by insurance, but it is unclear and the nurses don't have an answer for you either. We're hoping to not receive bills from insurance for multiple tests. The testing process at First Med, however, was painless (aside from the swab all the way up your nose). You stay in your car and they come out to you, and bring you your results in 25 minutes or less.

With Mercy Go, I had to do the full-on visit with a doctor.

So I may be hit with a sizeable co-pay.

[kukblue1]

I must say, after all this time the fact that this whole testing thing is still generally unclear is quite troubling.

I have good health insurance and more or less just ignored what it said on Mercy's site and I'm still not sure how much I'll be charged.

Getting tested anywhere else was even more confusing.


Still way too many barriers for testing and I suspect there are still tons of positive cases running around without knowing.

How many people do you think are not getting tested even if they fell a little sick cause they don't want to get that thing shoved up their nose. I have hear though from a few it isn't all that bad but I can see people thinking that. Also people living pay check to pay check unsure if it's going to cost them anything. We need to get a Saliva test that is easy and cheap and we better get one soon. However with it being over 6 months already you would think we would have something by now.

[FighttheGoodFight]

The most depressing tweet I have read this week.

"CDC's Redfield at Senate hrng on a vaccine: When is it going to be generally available to the American public?..I think we're probably looking at late second quarter/third quarter, 2021"

https://twitter.com/ChadPergram/stat...517688322?s=20

[FighttheGoodFight]

How many people do you think are not getting tested even if they fell a little sick cause they don't want to get that thing shoved up their nose. I have hear though from a few it isn't all that bad but I can see people thinking that. Also people living pay check to pay check unsure if it's going to cost them anything. We need to get a Saliva test that is easy and cheap and we better get one soon. However with it being over 6 months already you would think we would have something by now.

The test at OU is just inside swab of the nose. They no longer have to do the deep nasal swab but some still are.

[Pete]

The most depressing tweet I have read this week.

"CDC's Redfield at Senate hrng on a vaccine: When is it going to be generally available to the American public?..I think we're probably looking at late second quarter/third quarter, 2021"

https://twitter.com/ChadPergram/stat...517688322?s=20

There was never any realistic chance we'd have a viable, fully-tested vaccine before that time. Rhetoric to the contrary has just been political nonsense.

I'm just hoping we get it next year before the cold & flu season hits.

[Pete]

970 new cases today; 7-day rolling average now 908.

177 new cases in OK County.

528 currently hospitalized.

12 additional deaths reported.

[Pete]

Meanwhile, according to a study just released by the U.S. Census Bureau, Oklahoma has the 2nd highest percentage of people lacking health insurance at 14.3% (Texas is the only state that is worse at 18.4%) and the percentage continues to creep up nationwide:

https://www.census.gov/library/publi...o/p60-271.html

[BoulderSooner]

The most depressing tweet I have read this week.

"CDC's Redfield at Senate hrng on a vaccine: When is it going to be generally available to the American public?..I think we're probably looking at late second quarter/third quarter, 2021"

https://twitter.com/ChadPergram/stat...517688322?s=20

there is a better chance that we never have a vaccine then it coming in the next year