Covid-19 in OKC (coronavirus)

[soonerguru]

EPS did recently expand their quarantine procedures in the wake of OSDH changes to their policies. Glad they're being proactive as much as possible given the inability to mandate masks.

They can mandate masks. OKC and Tulsa have now done it. It can be done. Edmond just won’t do it.

[timothy.a.owen]

One statistic I would like to see is the number of ventillators being used on a daily basis. Also would like to see it broken down by county or even MSA.

Why?

[BDP]

My spouse's school district is reporting 4-5X as many cases on Week 2 than at this time last year when there was distancing, masks, and no Delta variant. Not off to a great start...

Distancing, masks, and good contact tracing has been proven to work extremely well at containing community spread and keeping students in classes.

Add vaccine requirements on top of that, and schools become a non-factor and the pandemic ends.

And none of this is new knowledge. We've known this for 100+ years.

But someone made a viral meme and convinced a significant amount of Americans that not wearing a mask in public or that not taking a free and safe vaccine to combat a global pandemic was the next great freedom worth having Americans die for.

The currently unvaccinated in America are the biggest freeloaders we've ever had.

[d-usa]

Deer Creek has no quarantine requirement. If your kid is exposed, it's up to you to decide if they should stay at home or continue going to class.

[Pete]

Honestly, future generations are going to look back at this time and never be able to comprehend why this happened.

No matter how this history is written it will never make any sense whatsoever. It certainly makes no sense now.

[Bowser214]

It's ironic that we were taught as kids to cover our mouth when we coughed or sneezed so we don't spread germs.

[soonerguru]

Honestly, future generations are going to look back at this time and never be able to comprehend why this happened.

No matter how this history is written it will never make any sense whatsoever. It certainly makes no sense now.

100% this. This is weird as $**t. There is no rational explanation, although I will try.

1. There was a counter political narrative that was almost entirely from one viewpoint that dictated that Covid-19 was all "overblown," or even, a "hoax."

2. Then it morphed into strange arguments about libertarian "freedom" with the mask requirements. Grown men trying to force their way into public buildings, shooting their spit around a lot.

3. Then, for a brief moment, there was a sense of euphoria that this was "behind us," coupled with a total misinterpretation of the CDC "you can ditch your mask" guidance. The people who jumped on this the most seemingly were the unvaccinated, who were just ready for any public argument to ditch the masks.

4. Now we're in this f-ck-all version of events, in which there is no coherent public strategy at all (besides vaccination). Where communities in red states are 180 degrees away from where they were a year ago, with no organized public health messaging or plan.

Where we are now is so much worse than a year ago. And, ironically, it is negatively affecting the people who are most passionately AGAINST rational public health mandates. Yet, it still is taxing the resources we all rely on, else this would become a case of divine schadenfreude. My sense of sorrow for those afflicted by this is going down rapidly, as more and more anti-Covid vaxxers crowd our hospitals in desperation, even as they flout the most basic public health recommendations.

Unfortunately, we cannot just enjoy this comeuppance, because it is incredibly taxing and devastating to the folks who serve as our last medical resort.

[Bunty]

Why where we are now is so much worse than a year ago is because government and private sources are not doing much of anything to counter attack the insane falsehoods that have been going out against getting vaccinated. The crap I come across just keeps going over the top worse.

[Roger S]

Fiancé is working at the hospital in Idabel this week.... She said on top of everyone in that hospital with covid right now not being vaccinated. The majority told her they had been taking Ivermectin. Several asked to be vaccinated and were told it's too late for that now.

She also said most need to be moved to a better equipped facility but there is nowhere for them to go and most probably won't make it out of that hospital alive and those that do will likely suffer long term effects..... One family even asked the hospital not to transfer their family member so they wouldn't have to transport the body back.

Also on top of that crap show there was a motorcycle accident down there yesterday. We got sidetracked on other stuff before she told me how that went but I can't imagine it went as well as it could have with the hospital being at full capacity.

She also told me they told her on average they see 8-12 patients a day and yesterday she saw 28...... You do not want to make a trip to a hospital right now for anything.

[Pete]

Why where we are now is so much worse than a year ago is because government and private sources are not doing much of anything to counter attack the insane falsehoods that have been going out against getting vaccinated. The crap I come across just keeps going over the top worse.

And last year with far fewer cases we had mask mandates, schools and most employers mandating people stay home, limits on bar and restaurant capacities and a bunch of other emergency measures.

Now, it's like this isn't even happening. And football season starts this week.

[Urbanized]

….Also on top of that crap show there was a motorcycle accident down there yesterday. We got sidetracked on other stuff before she told me how that went but I can't imagine it went as well as it could have with the hospital being at full capacity.

She also told me they told her on average they see 8-12 patients a day and yesterday she saw 28...... You do not want to make a trip to a hospital right now for anything.

Specifically why I haven’t ridden my motorcycle in way too long. I’m used to being a daily rider, and typically I don’t concern myself too much about the potential for a motorcycle-related hospital visit. But it DOES happen, and has even happened to me. At this point it’s best to ride this stupidity-fueled surge out and try to limit all risk.

Get the damned shot for ****’s sake.

[Ginkasa]

I feel very fortunate to work for an employer to not only has allowed continued WFH but has in fact kept the office closed. There is zero pressure to come in. Initially the plan was to re-open the office next month, but as soon as things started to backslide they said "nope" and extended WFH indefinitely.

I really don't know what I'd have done if I worked for someone else.

[dankrutka]

100% this. This is weird as $**t. There is no rational explanation, although I will try.

1. There was a counter political narrative that was almost entirely from one viewpoint that dictated that Covid-19 was all "overblown," or even, a "hoax."

2. Then it morphed into strange arguments about libertarian "freedom" with the mask requirements. Grown men trying to force their way into public buildings, shooting their spit around a lot.

3. Then, for a brief moment, there was a sense of euphoria that this was "behind us," coupled with a total misinterpretation of the CDC "you can ditch your mask" guidance. The people who jumped on this the most seemingly were the unvaccinated, who were just ready for any public argument to ditch the masks.

4. Now we're in this f-ck-all version of events, in which there is no coherent public strategy at all (besides vaccination). Where communities in red states are 180 degrees away from where they were a year ago, with no organized public health messaging or plan.

Where we are now is so much worse than a year ago. And, ironically, it is negatively affecting the people who are most passionately AGAINST rational public health mandates. Yet, it still is taxing the resources we all rely on, else this would become a case of divine schadenfreude. My sense of sorrow for those afflicted by this is going down rapidly, as more and more anti-Covid vaxxers crowd our hospitals in desperation, even as they flout the most basic public health recommendations.

Unfortunately, we cannot just enjoy this comeuppance, because it is incredibly taxing and devastating to the folks who serve as our last medical resort.

The handling of COVID is a comedy and tragedy, but there’s a lot of holes in this post. First, if you’ve studied the 1918 influenza pandemic, you’d know that many of today’s problems like anti-masking are not new. Second, the CDC didn’t say “ditch your mask,” they said you don’t need it in the first place. It was a major blunder intended to preserve mask supplies for medical professionals, but it was negligent PR. Even today, the CDC is still underselling that COVID spreads by aerosols—not droplets and fomites as originally believed. It’s another failure. I support the CDC, but they really need to partner with social scientists to understand messaging and social actions. Third, there’s a ton of evidence that vaccine hesitancy is complex, but people always present it as simple. There have been some good articles written on this lately.

Of course, I agree that history will look unkindly to governors like Stitt and others who didn’t do more. It’s embarrassing and tragic. But, things in the past and present, are more complex than you’re narrative. For example, to say there has been no public strategy is absurd. Some states have multilayered plans that have had some success. Fighting a pandemic isn’t simple or easy. Even highly vaxxed countries are having problems right now.

[jerrywall]

I believe he's referring to the "ditch the mask" guidance that came out this summer, for those that were fully vaccinated.

[PoliSciGuy]

Almost like the virus mutates and we had to make changes as we receive new data. Clearly nefarious and not just basic common sense.

[dankrutka]

I believe he's referring to the "ditch the mask" guidance that came out this summer, for those that were fully vaccinated.

Ah, fair enough. Thanks for clarifying. And, I think the CDC is trying to do what's right, but they're messaging could have been better. My larger point is that the pandemic is complex. There's some obvious blame (e.g., Trump administration, other politicians who politicized the pandemic, conspiracy theorists, anti-maskers, social media companies), some more nuanced blame (e.g., initial "no masks" declaration, CDC/WHO for poor messaging, still dragging feet on aerosols), and the reality that pandemics are really hard (e.g., some highly vaxxed countries are struggling now). I'm just saying the story is more complicated than the radicals.

[Pete]

3,338 new cases today. Last several Fridays: 2,851; 2,814; 2,303; 1,777; 1,194; 750.

7-day average now 2,577.

Hospitalizations are 1,602 (-5).

ICU is 423 (-2).

[Pete]

For the week...

18,036 new cases. Last several weeks: 15,542; 14,851; 13,348; 9,459; 6,569; 3,925.

117 additional reported deaths. Last several weeks: 106; 80; 40; 42; 23.

Hospitalizations were +115.

ICU was +25.

[dankrutka]

You know what. I just read a couple stories about people using Ivermectin and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issuing a warning that said:

“You are not a horse, you are not a cow. Seriously, y’all. Stop it.”

Good lord. I retract everything I said. We're going to have a hell of a time explaining some of this to future generations... or is the future just going to be a dystopia of misinformation?

(For real though, obviously only a very small group of moronic people who would take an anti-parasitic drug used for deworming livestock. I have to remind myself that most vaccine hesitant people do NOT fall into this group.)

[Roger S]

(For real though, obviously only a very small group of moronic people who would take an anti-parasitic drug used for deworming livestock. I have to remind myself that most vaccine hesitant people do NOT fall into this group.)

But when you are making a stand for freedom you will take the drug you choose over the drug recommended by those you perceive to be trying to control your body and mind (microchips in the vaccine).

I've been totally caught off guard by the number of people I have known for years, and had always considered to be intelligent and compassionate people, that have come out anti-mask and anti-vax but have ran with hydroxychloroquine, and now ivermectin, despite any scientific data proving either of them to be effective.

[soonerguru]

The handling of COVID is a comedy and tragedy, but there’s a lot of holes in this post. First, if you’ve studied the 1918 influenza pandemic, you’d know that many of today’s problems like anti-masking are not new. Second, the CDC didn’t say “ditch your mask,” they said you don’t need it in the first place. It was a major blunder intended to preserve mask supplies for medical professionals, but it was negligent PR. Even today, the CDC is still underselling that COVID spreads by aerosols—not droplets and fomites as originally believed. It’s another failure. I support the CDC, but they really need to partner with social scientists to understand messaging and social actions. Third, there’s a ton of evidence that vaccine hesitancy is complex, but people always present it as simple. There have been some good articles written on this lately.

Of course, I agree that history will look unkindly to governors like Stitt and others who didn’t do more. It’s embarrassing and tragic. But, things in the past and present, are more complex than you’re narrative. For example, to say there has been no public strategy is absurd. Some states have multilayered plans that have had some success. Fighting a pandemic isn’t simple or easy. Even highly vaxxed countries are having problems right now.

You seem to be missing my point about the Spanish Flu. What I said is that I believe we are about to go through the deadly wave comparable to the Spanish Flu's last wave.

Secondly, my comment about CDC was that the CDC said people could remove masks if vaccinated, even in crowded spaces. So, the anti-mask crowd took the opportunity to ditch their masks. The CDC guidance had to be reversed within a month or two and probably should never have been given when you consider the way half of this nation is behaving.

[d-usa]

I've been totally caught off guard by the number of people I have known for years, and had always considered to be intelligent and compassionate people, that have come out anti-mask and anti-vax but have ran with hydroxychloroquine, and now ivermectin, despite any scientific data proving either of them to be effective.

Over the years I've watched smart folks I know become sovereign citizens, anti-vax, follow Q-Anon, etc. It's always a bit heartbreaking to watch people who used to know how to think critically get wrapped up in these delusions.

[soonerguru]

Speaking of standing up for freedom, this 30-year-old guy, who led an "End Covid Tyranny" campaign in his town of San Angelo, is nearing death from a virus he claimed didn't exist, and who fought to prevent people from protecting themselves and others.

From the article:

When he first felt symptoms on July 26, his wife told the Standard-Times, he refused to get tested or seek medical care. He instead began treating himself with a cocktail of Vitamin C, zinc, aspirin and ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug that has been falsely promoted as an effective treatment for COVID-19 by conservative media. He was taken to the hospital on July 30.

https://news.yahoo.com/texas-anti-ma...045722778.html

[FighttheGoodFight]

Over the years I've watched smart folks I know become sovereign citizens, anti-vax, follow Q-Anon, etc. It's always a bit heartbreaking to watch people who used to know how to think critically get wrapped up in these delusions.

I truly believe this is the fault of social media. These algorithms will beat people to death with bad info and keep them clicking more and more. I have to tell my father in law all the time, stop watching these youtube videos this is all fake stuff man. But the thumbnail and description suck them in. Not saying this doesn't happen with younger folks but when my dad got completely off social media, he was a different person. Less angry and less talking about wild conspiracies.

[catcherinthewry]

I truly believe this is the fault of social media. These algorithms will beat people to death with bad info and keep them clicking more and more. I have to tell my father in law all the time, stop watching these youtube videos this is all fake stuff man. But the thumbnail and description suck them in. Not saying this doesn't happen with younger folks but when my dad got completely off social media, he was a different person. Less angry and less talking about wild conspiracies.

Come on, man. Fox News wants some credit too.