Covid-19 in OKC (coronavirus)

[Pete]

You can bet the Super Bowl (all the get-togethers and people flooding bars) is going to cause a rise in cases.

[Bill Robertson]

You can bet the Super Bowl (all the get-togethers and people flooding bars) is going to cause a rise in cases.

Certainly. But hopefully not drastic. It's one night. Unlike the holidays which were multiple get-togethers over multiple days for many people.

[catch22]

Certainly. But hopefully not drastic. It's one night. Unlike the holidays which were multiple get-togethers over multiple days for many people.

It's one night that has an order of magnitude greater alcohol consumption, food sharing, high fives, and yelling/shouting.

[Bill Robertson]

It's one night that has an order of magnitude greater alcohol consumption, food sharing, high fives, and yelling/shouting.

True. That's why I said hopefully.

[soonerguru]

It's one night that has an order of magnitude greater alcohol consumption, food sharing, high fives, and yelling/shouting.

I realize it's a big deal overall, but there haven't been many interesting Super Bowl matchups in years. Somewhat looking forward to this one, kinda.

As for the decline in cases, hallelujah! I realize the high deaths are expected as they are lagging indicators.

My only concern is that our cases will be overtaken by the UK variant, which spreads much more efficiently, now that schools are opening. Hopefully we can get enough folks vaccinated before it takes over in March.

It's a race against time, and it doesn't seem like we're winning.

[FighttheGoodFight]

I realize it's a big deal overall, but there haven't been many interesting Super Bowl matchups in years. Somewhat looking forward to this one, kinda.

As for the decline in cases, hallelujah! I realize the high deaths are expected as they are lagging indicators.

My only concern is that our cases will be overtaken by the UK variant, which spreads much more efficiently, now that schools are opening. Hopefully we can get enough folks vaccinated before it takes over in March.

It's a race against time, and it doesn't seem like we're winning.

I'd disagree. I think we are doing pretty well in the US. 22% more vaccines coming in next week. As we get more 65+ vaccinated this will wain. Too many doomers out there. We can be positive that we are moving in the right direction. Just gotta keep holding the line.

[FighttheGoodFight]

We reached 500k Oklahomans with one dose. 40% of 65+ vaccinated.

Second part of phase two looks to begin soon as they announce was comorbities will qualify.

[Bill Robertson]

We reached 500k Oklahomans with one dose. 40% of 65+ vaccinated.

Second part of phase two looks to begin soon as they announce was comorbities will qualify.

Yay! That group will include my wife and I.

[FighttheGoodFight]

I should correct that. 400k doses in arms with 500k administered. Wording confusion my mistake.

[David]

https://twitter.com/davidfholt/statu...00027837198336

Short update thread from Mayor Holt about how the city is doing with it's pandemic response.

Also, apparently his dad had a positive test result in January, spent some time in the OU ICU here in the city, and was on Tuesday released out to their care. Goes to show that nobody's family is untouchable by this thing.

[Bunty]

You can bet the Super Bowl (all the get-togethers and people flooding bars) is going to cause a rise in cases.

I guess a lot of people, especially not so old ones, are confident that COVID-19 won't be a difficult illness to deal with, if they come down with it. Still, I don't think I want to be sick with it even for just a few days.

[DowntownMan]

I guess a lot of people, especially not so old ones, are confident that COVID-19 won't be a difficult illness to deal with, if they come down with it. Still, I don't think I want to be sick with it even for just a few days.

I was talking with coworkers today about this. We are all young but aren’t doing anything for super bowl. We said parties for that won’t probably be much different than what people are already getting together with others on weekends already. People are out and about and hanging with people so I don’t see a super bowl spike in my opinion because of that

[king183]

I should correct that. 400k doses in arms with 500k administered. Wording confusion my mistake.

We're going to see the second dose administration rate skyrocket this week and into next because this week represented one month since the first mass vaccination of the 65+ group.

I previously predicted we would hit 500k administered by the end of January, but that was when we were expecting the boost of doses from the reserve supply that never materialized because it didn't exist. We should hit 500k this week instead and the rate should increase as Moderna and (less so) Pfizer steadily increases their output.

I'm hoping the death rate from COVID plummets to near zero by the end of this month/beginning of March as the most vulnerable are increasingly immune from the severe effects of the disease.

In more good news, the portal continues to be used, indicating steady demand for the vaccine, and new methods for scheduling at new points of distribution sites are starting to roll out. We can end this pandemic by summer if we stick with it

[TheTravellers]

... We can end this pandemic by summer if we stick with it

Maybe, notwithstanding the huge amount of people that aren't going to get vaccinated.

[OKC Talker]

I'm all for being optimistic, but don't let that keep you from taking necessary precautions. Even people who have been vaccinated will likely need to keep wearing masks and social distancing well into summer.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...-spread/?amp=1

[king183]

I'm all for being optimistic, but don't let that keep you from taking necessary precautions. Even people who have been vaccinated will likely need to keep wearing masks and social distancing well into summer.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...-spread/?amp=1

Absolutely. Until we have strong evidence the vaccines prevent transmission--and some promising evidence they do is starting to emerge--everyone needs to keep masking and distancing. We've been at this nearly a year now; there's no reason to give up the game just as we approach the goal line.

[Pete]

2,662 new cases today; 7-day rolling average 2,216.

29 additional reported deaths; 7-day rolling average 34.1.

Hospitalizations are 951 (-57).

ICU is 284 (-31).

[d-usa]

From the small sample size of 1:

I got the 1st dose of Pfizer on 12/30.
Started having some symptoms on 01/08 (all pretty much neurological, I attributed it to recent medication changes)
I got tested on 01/09 after also having a fever, and got my positive test result on 01/10

Until the positive test result I was around my wife and kids with plenty of close contact, until I isolated after getting test results. Wife and two kids tested on 01/11 and 01/17 and were negative both times. Considering how easy it spreads through families, I feel like the shot helped prevent spread in our household.

[OKCretro]

I'm all for being optimistic, but don't let that keep you from taking necessary precautions. Even people who have been vaccinated will likely need to keep wearing masks and social distancing well into summer.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...-spread/?amp=1

it will be well passed the summer. I I am guessing until at least spring of 22 and beyond. Listen to the press secretary's comments read between the lines.

[Bill Robertson]

it will be well passed the summer. I I am guessing until at least spring of 22 and beyond. Listen to the press secretary's comments read between the lines.

By mid to late summer everyone that's going to accept being vaccinated will be. The two existing vaccines will be added to by J&J and at least one other increasing availability greatly. If the virus crises goes beyond that what will ever end it? If it's still a major problem then will it ever be done unless somehow it kills itself off.

[dankrutka]

it will be well passed the summer. I I am guessing until at least spring of 22 and beyond. Listen to the press secretary's comments read between the lines.

I do think mask wearing, social distancing, and ventilation (why does everyone forget about ventilation?!?) indoors should continue for the rest of this year, but that doesn't mean things won't get a lot better. I have not gone to any indoor spaces in the last 10 months for more than a few minutes. After I am vaccinated (which I anticipate happening in the next 2-3 months), my behavior will change dramatically. I will continue wearing a mask, but I'll start taking public transportation and going into places again. For example, after I'm vaccinated, I would gladly attend a Thunder game with a mask on.

My point here is that just because some mask wearing and reasonable measures will stay with us, things are about to get better. It's important for people to know that.

[Bill Robertson]

I do think mask wearing, social distancing, and ventilation (why does everyone forget about ventilation?!?) indoors should continue for the rest of this year, but that doesn't mean things won't get a lot better. I have not gone to any indoor spaces in the last 10 months for more than a few minutes. After I am vaccinated (which I anticipate happening in the next 2-3 months), my behavior will change dramatically. I will continue wearing a mask, but I'll start taking public transportation and going into places again. For example, after I'm vaccinated, I would gladly attend a Thunder game with a mask on.

My point here is that just because some mask wearing and reasonable measures will stay with us, things are about to get better. It's important for people to know that.

We used to LIVE to eat out and pretty much had a schedule of when our favorite servers, bartenders, co-patrons would be at our regular haunts on which nights. We haven't been inside a bar-grill/restaurant since March and won't go back until this crap is GONE!!! We have been anal about precautions. My wife hasn't left the house except for work. I do anything that requires shopping and with a N95 mask and going through sanitizer like crazy. And we've both had it twice! As I sit quietly at my desk typing this I have to think about breathing, I have a throbbing headache and my heart rate is in the high 90s. Pretty much normal since COVID round 2 in mid-November. I pray daily that the vaccines kill this crap dead. That's the only way our lives are going to go back to anything close to "normal".

[OKC Talker]

By mid to late summer everyone that's going to accept being vaccinated will be. The two existing vaccines will be added to by J&J and at least one other increasing availability greatly. If the virus crises goes beyond that what will ever end it? If it's still a major problem then will it ever be done unless somehow it kills itself off.

I'm trying not to be doom and gloom but even after everyone is vaccinated, these mutations are still going to be a problem. The E484K mutation specifically has been re-infecting people who have previously had COVID and is thought to lower the effectiveness of existing vaccines to as low as 50%. When combined with the other mutations that are making COVID more easily transmissible like in the variants discovered in South Africa, Brazil, and now the U.K., it's predicted to cause another huge uptick in cases around the world over the next few months.

https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/2021...vid-resurgence

I have my doubts that COVID is ever going to "go away" or "kill itself off" but if EVERYONE gets vaccinated and gets annual booster shots like we do with the flu, hospitalization might not be necessary and we will hopefully be able to go back to something closer to normal.

[dankrutka]

I'm trying not to be doom and gloom but even after everyone is vaccinated, these mutations are still going to be a problem. The E484K mutation specifically has been re-infecting people who have previously had COVID and is thought to lower the effectiveness of existing vaccines to as low as 50%. When combined with the other mutations that are making COVID more easily transmissible like in the variants discovered in South Africa, Brazil, and now the U.K., it's predicted to cause another huge uptick in cases around the world over the next few months.

https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/2021...vid-resurgence

I have my doubts that COVID is ever going to "go away" or "kill itself off" but if EVERYONE gets vaccinated and gets annual booster shots like we do with the flu, hospitalization might not be necessary and we will hopefully be able to go back to something closer to normal.

I really think you're being overly pessimistic. We have basically been living amidst an uncontrolled fire for the last 6 months, but we're close to the burn being under some control. The vaccines have been mostly effective against most strains and still seem to be preventing the worst outcomes (i.e., hospitalization, death). Moreover, scientists are already working on boosters to respond to mutations. I completely agree that COVID will remain a part of our lives for the foreseeable future, but it's not going to be like it is now. Things are going to be much better for a lot of people.

More than that, when someone shares their dreams about getting some of the things they've lost back, maybe don't crap on it. I know you didn't mean harm, but people really need hope right now... and there's really good scientific evidence for being hopeful.

[d-usa]

The mutations are also a symptom of the uncontrolled spread: if the virus replicates more frequently, it will mutate more frequently.

Once the rate of transmission decreases, the rate of mutations will decrease as well.