Covid-19 in OKC (coronavirus)

[Soonerinfiniti]

Where is a COVID 19 saliva test available in the OKC metro area? Having trouble finding it online.

[dankrutka]

It would be laughable to watch anyone try to enforce another lockdown at this point. After everything that business owners went through back in the spring, there is no way that all of them would comply...especially in the absence of any type of financial program to reimburse them for the massive losses they would incur by being closed through the holidays. This whole situations sucks but another lockdown is not the answer.

Yes, I agree that it won't happen. This isn't the country anymore where people make sacrifices or generally care for others. Can you imagine this country making the sacrifices Americans made during WWII? Lol. People would just complain that they were oppressed.

I actually think well planned and executed lockdowns can be good for businesses. They can provide clarity to the public, get things under control, and allow for businesses to plan too. Also, it's not like lockdowns shut down all businesses. Of course, this country has no leadership or plan so it's kind of hard to even imagine lockdowns being well planned.

Again, we just had a post basically saying the virus doesn't matter while people are literally in the hospital dying right now primarily because of people under 65 infecting their elders.

And, Oklahoma is getting dangerously close to people dying unnecessarily because there are not enough health care workers to care for them. Try imagining a loved one dying because they can't get care. It's getting close...

[soonerguru]

It would be laughable to watch anyone try to enforce another lockdown at this point. After everything that business owners went through back in the spring, there is no way that all of them would comply...especially in the absence of any type of financial program to reimburse them for the massive losses they would incur by being closed through the holidays. This whole situations sucks but another lockdown is not the answer.

For me, this will be a shutdown. We had started getting takeout. I visited a bar and sat on a patio. We were forced into a hotel after 13 days without power. So, to a degree, our lives had become more public.

Now, there will be no holiday gatherings for my family. No more backyard hangouts with friends. And, I will most certainly not be patronizing any food establishments for dine-in or takeout. All food will be prepared at home and 90% will be delivered.

Back to quarantine through February at least. After this many months, a few more don't seem too hard. Thank GOD we have new leadership coming that will address this situation as it should have been from the beginning. Also, I'm hopeful about the vaccine.

So, whether or not the governor does a shutdown (we all know he isn't going to do jack****), there will still be an effective shutdown that will affect small businesses. It sucks, but keeping things "open" isn't really helping these businesses when at least half of the public realizes they are playing Russian roulette every time they leave their homes.

[soonerguru]

Also, can we acknowledge the obvious? This spike started around Labor Day, approximately 2 weeks after schools reopened. Some districts like OKC and Tulsa did not reopen to in-person learning, and it appears that if they do so, it is on the distant horizon. But many suburban and most rural districts did open, and a third of them didn't even require masks in the schools once they did reopen. This spike is the result of reopening schools, just as most of us here predicted would happen. Scientists said it would happen. People with common sense and basic reading comprehension skills knew this would happen. It's happening and it's no surprise whatsoever and has nothing to do with weather.

The commissioner for Oklahoma's state health department stood up at a microphone yesterday and said that creating a state mask mandate would make people less likely to wear masks. Of course, he had anecdotal evidence from five people he knows to make such a grandiosely freaking stupid comment. This is BS on its face. Just look at OKC: once the toothless mandate was passed by Council mask usage went up immediately and dramatically. Fry is completely, 100% off base.

The rural and exurban Vox populi of this state is retrograde stupid.

[Bill Robertson]

We've never left how we did things through the "shut down". So if there's another it's business as usual for us either way. I haven't been anywhere but work where I can avoid everyone anyway and minimal shopping masked and sanitized to the point of paranoia.

Scary thing right now is for the last couple days I've had exactly the same symptoms (minor again thank God) as I had in late March. At least I was already taking vacation last week and if I do go to work this week there's virtually no one there because someone tested positive and we're on a skeleton crew (5 out of 50 people) for two weeks. And my office is off by itself so I can be there and never see anyone.

Odd thing is I've been ANAL about mask wearing. And I have N95 masks. I'm washing my hands and hand sanitizing so much I probably would test positive for those ingredients in urine samples. How could I have caught anything COVID or otherwise?

[C_M_25]

We've never left how we did things through the "shut down". So if there's another it's business as usual for us either way. I haven't been anywhere but work where I can avoid everyone anyway and minimal shopping masked and sanitized to the point of paranoia.

Scary thing right now is for the last couple days I've had exactly the same symptoms (minor again thank God) as I had in late March. At least I was already taking vacation last week and if I do go to work this week there's virtually no one there because someone tested positive and we're on a skeleton crew (5 out of 50 people) for two weeks. And my office is off by itself so I can be there and never see anyone.

Odd thing is I've been ANAL about mask wearing. And I have N95 masks. I'm washing my hands and hand sanitizing so much I probably would test positive for those ingredients in urine samples. How could I have caught anything COVID or otherwise?

Do you think your symptoms are more allergy related? The winds have been awful as of late with wild temperature swings. Went hiking yesterday and am feeling crummy today. Definitely allergy related for me?

[C_M_25]

Also, can we acknowledge the obvious? This spike started around Labor Day, approximately 2 weeks after schools reopened. Some districts like OKC and Tulsa did not reopen to in-person learning, and it appears that if they do so, it is on the distant horizon. But many suburban and most rural districts did open, and a third of them didn't even require masks in the schools once they did reopen. This spike is the result of reopening schools, just as most of us here predicted would happen. Scientists said it would happen. People with common sense and basic reading comprehension skills knew this would happen. It's happening and it's no surprise whatsoever and has nothing to do with weather.

The commissioner for Oklahoma's state health department stood up at a microphone yesterday and said that creating a state mask mandate would make people less likely to wear masks. Of course, he had anecdotal evidence from five people he knows to make such a grandiosely freaking stupid comment. This is BS on its face. Just look at OKC: once the toothless mandate was passed by Council mask usage went up immediately and dramatically. Fry is completely, 100% off base.

The rural and exurban Vox populi of this state is retrograde stupid.

I’m sure schools are contributing some to the spread, but I seriously doubt they are the primary reason. Do you have an evidence to support your claim? Instead of blaming kids for this spread, let’s just step back and look at what’s really happening.

Currently, the fastest rate of spread in Oklahoma is in the rule counties. These locations do not, or rarely, have mask mandates. Life in these parts of the state has been normal for the most part. Like most things in life, it just took a little while for covid to take a foothold. We’re finally seeing uncontrolled community spread taking a toll in these areas.

Masks and responsible social distancing, or lack thereof, is the culprit here. Not the schools. Bars, restaurants, churches, colleges, and other large indoor gatherings (of irresponsible adults) is the culprit for this now rapid uncontrollable community spread.

[Bill Robertson]

Do you think your symptoms are more allergy related? The winds have been awful as of late with wild temperature swings. Went hiking yesterday and am feeling crummy today. Definitely allergy related for me?

I've had allergies forever and never had a temperature with them. Plus the diarrhea, feeling like something is pressing on my chest trying to keep me from breathing, really dry/sore throat and headache when my nose/sinuses are perfectly clear doesn't fit allergies. Also waves of nausea, sweating and weakness/fatigue when I'm not doing anything physical. Identical symptoms to March and again all minor just like in March but a little bit worse this time. Not a lot worse but enough to notice. And I'm convinced by multiple positive antibody tests that I had it in March.

[OkiePoke]

Not sure if this is considered political, but what can we do to urge Stitt to do something other than introducing new colors for the map?

[C_M_25]

I've had allergies forever and never had a temperature with them. Plus the diarrhea, feeling like something is pressing on my chest trying to keep me from breathing, really dry/sore throat and headache when my nose/sinuses are perfectly clear doesn't fit allergies. Also waves of nausea, sweating and weakness/fatigue when I'm not doing anything physical. Identical symptoms to March and again all minor just like in March but a little bit worse this time. Not a lot worse but enough to notice. And I'm convinced by multiple positive antibody tests that I had it in March.

Yeah...that’s definitely not allergies. Go get you a quick test at a cvs. I hope that it’s not covid. Maybe a stomach bug and anxiety? Sorry to hear that though. I hope you can push through ok!!

[Bill Robertson]

Yeah...that’s definitely not allergies. Go get you a quick test at a cvs. I hope that it’s not covid. Maybe a stomach bug and anxiety? Sorry to hear that though. I hope you can push through ok!!

I got on CVS's website to schedule a test and didn't do it. I'm already isolated so what would it accomplish but add me as a number. I don't know what I could do differently if I tested positive. If this is as bad as the symptoms get for me then I'm good. I'm isolated already and so I'm not risking giving it to anyone else. I'll donate blood in a few weeks and if I test positive for antibodies then I did have it again and I'll donate plasma again until my antibodies drop off.

[Bunty]

I’ve been essentially living like the virus doesn’t exist for the last 2 months (other than doing things like not wearing a mask in public places which just makes you an a**hole). By some miracle, despite putting myself in at least 20 large gatherings, one of at least 3500 people in Florida...I haven’t caught it yet (I’ve taken tests before going around family or anyone with an elevated risk so I know I definitely haven’t). My point in saying that is that you live in a bubble if you think any “defacto” shut down is going to happen. Most of the OK population under 40 has resumed a relatively normal activity level and that isn’t going to change no matter what numbers are released (which most younger people are completely ignoring now). At least in Tulsa, the bars and restaurants are completely packed Thursday through Saturday night. There is very little to no threat of serious illness or lingering effects for people under 40, and even lower the farther down you go in age. Out of the 50-80 people i know that have had it...it’s been a bad head cold for 3 days and nothing at all afterward (or no symptoms whatsoever). The one exception was a person over 65 that had a heart condition and caught it before the initial shutdowns. That doesn’t instill the fear it would take to cause people not to go on about their lives as they usually would. Right or wrong, it is what it is. I just hope everyone wears a mask and exercises caution around the elderly and those with an elevated risk.

This guy looks under 40, and he got very sick. Who wants to risk being a rare exception? Stories like his need to get out more than ever before: https://www.ocolly.com/news/my-exper...c393744ed.html

As he puts it: "After going through hell for weeks, I am finally negative for the virus, but that doesn’t mean the long term effects are done. Each and every day I see people brushing off this virus and the severity of it and that can be frustrating from someone who has went through it or seen someone they love taken by it."

[dankrutka]

Long COVID is something that is rarely discussed, but is ruining the lives of survivors. For the millionth time, just surviving doesn’t mean your life isn’t destroyed. The impacts of COVID are wide and deep.

[Jersey Boss]

Moderna this morning claimed their vaccine has an effective rate of 94%. My initial skepticism on when these vaccines would be ready is becoming guarded optimism.
That being said the population still needs to take precautions and continue with mask wearing, social distancing, and avoiding risky situations such as bars, indoor dining that is packed, and similar venues.

[BoulderSooner]

This guy looks under 40, and he got very sick. Who wants to risk being a rare exception? Stories like his need to get out more than ever before: https://www.ocolly.com/news/my-exper...c393744ed.html

As he puts it: "After going through hell for weeks, I am finally negative for the virus, but that doesn’t mean the long term effects are done. Each and every day I see people brushing off this virus and the severity of it and that can be frustrating from someone who has went through it or seen someone they love taken by it."

of course you can find someone under 40 that got very very sick ... . that doesn't change the math ....

[PaddyShack]

I just would like to know what to when my company has given us all the things to successfully do our jobs at home, yet is requiring people to return to the office just to have butts in seats... Oh, I mean to help keep our corporate culture together...

[Bill Robertson]

I just would like to know what to when my company has given us all the things to successfully do our jobs at home, yet is requiring people to return to the office just to have butts in seats... Oh, I mean to help keep our corporate culture together...

There are a lot of companies that proved working from home was just fine but made employees come back to the building when we "reopened". It's just one more thing I don't get.

[FighttheGoodFight]

Governor having another COVID19 press conference at noon today. Streaming on KOCO if you want to watch. I have a feeling the numbers might be pretty bad at 11am.

[jedicurt]

Honestly no idea but the answer is not another mass shut down.

it is if people don't start following guidelines and wearing a dang mask

[corwin1968]

There are a lot of companies that proved working from home was just fine but made employees come back to the building when we "reopened". It's just one more thing I don't get.

Hell, OKCPS is guilty of this.

What was too dangerous for employees to report to work, was suddenly safe, three weeks later. And this was as the Covid alert level was rising and the numbers were spiking. I don't get it, either.

[Jersey Boss]

Governor having another COVID19 press conference at noon today. Streaming on KOCO if you want to watch. I have a feeling the numbers might be pretty bad at 11am.

Is there anything to suggest that Stitt will acknowledge the reality of the current situation? My money is on he will stress "personal responsibility" as opposed to showing any leadership as the Governor.

[Libbymin]

I just would like to know what to when my company has given us all the things to successfully do our jobs at home, yet is requiring people to return to the office just to have butts in seats... Oh, I mean to help keep our corporate culture together...

Some of it is an aversion to moving away from the typical 8-5 Butts in the Seats corporate culture and some of it is just that some employers don't always trust that their employees are always working when they're at home so they want to be able to keep close tabs on them. Personally, I feel like it shouldn't be an issue as long as people are getting their work done.

[jerrywall]

There are a lot of companies that proved working from home was just fine but made employees come back to the building when we "reopened". It's just one more thing I don't get.

I'm really lucky in that my company quickly realized how effective and productive working from home has been, and has been discussing making a lot of our changes permanent. They want folks to remain local so that they will be able to come into the office a few times a year (once all this is over) but otherwise they are embracing a new paradigm.

[David]

Makes me wonder how much the office space market is going to be affected by companies deciding they just don't need as much.

[Pete]

2,729 new cases today. 7-day rolling average now a record 2,629.

10 additional deaths.


New hospital data will not be out until tonight.