Covid-19 in OKC (coronavirus)

[TheTravellers]

There's a lot of data to show that universal mask wearing helps keep transmission rates down. One of the top priorities for the government right now, IMO, should be to manufacture enough masks for health care workers ASAP, and then to continue manufacturing and rationing additional masks to the general public. It also needs to be made clear that people need to disinfect and/or heat whatever they're using as a mask between each use.

You can't really get rid of the virus with heat, I'm pretty sure, and if you disinfect some of the homemade masks (that have paper towels, etc.) in them, the paper will disintegrate.

And as far "a lot of data to show that universal mask wearing helps keep transmission rates down.", there's also this (summary below, entire article's long, but worth reading):

https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.p...25#post1112725

Data lacking to recommend broad mask use

We do not recommend requiring the general public who do not have symptoms of COVID-19-like illness to routinely wear cloth or surgical masks because:

There is no scientific evidence they are effective in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission
Their use may result in those wearing the masks to relax other distancing efforts because they have a sense of protection
We need to preserve the supply of surgical masks for at-risk healthcare workers.

Sweeping mask recommendations—as many have proposed—will not reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission, as evidenced by the widespread practice of wearing such masks in Hubei province, China, before and during its mass COVID-19 transmission experience earlier this year. Our review of relevant studies indicates that cloth masks will be ineffective at preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission, whether worn as source control or as PPE.

Surgical masks likely have some utility as source control (meaning the wearer limits virus dispersal to another person) from a symptomatic patient in a healthcare setting to stop the spread of large cough particles and limit the lateral dispersion of cough particles. They may also have very limited utility as source control or PPE in households.

Respirators, though, are the only option that can ensure protection for frontline workers dealing with COVID-19 cases, once all of the strategies for optimizing respirator supply have been implemented.

We do not know whether respirators are an effective intervention as source control for the public. A non-fit-tested respirator may not offer any better protection than a surgical mask. Respirators work as PPE only when they are the right size and have been fit-tested to demonstrate they achieve an adequate protection factor. In a time when respirator supplies are limited, we should be saving them for frontline workers to prevent infection and remain in their jobs.

These recommendations are based on a review of available literature and informed by professional expertise and consultation. We outline our review criteria, summarize the literature that best addresses these criteria, and describe some activities the public can do to help "flatten the curve" and to protect frontline workers and the general public.

We realize that the public yearns to help protect medical professionals by contributing homemade masks, but there are better ways to help.

[mkjeeves]

You can't really get rid of the virus with heat, I'm pretty sure, and if you disinfect some of the homemade masks (that have paper towels, etc.) in them, the paper will disintegrate.

If you didn’t wear out the mask, soil it or get coughed on directly in the hour you were out shopping you might just simply hang it up to dry for a few days and use it again. For a cloth mask, maybe do that to let possible viruses die, then wash them? Last I heard, soap and water kills it.

https://www.sages.org/n-95-re-use-instructions/

[Laramie]

Our prayers, and if you don't pray have hope; because 'this to will pass...' and continue to contact your love ones and those you hold close to your heart.

Together, UNITED, our country will survive.

[Edmond Hausfrau]

I will have to keep Instacart in mind for the future.

Just tried Instacart for Aldi. No pickup slots. Delivery available on Thursday? Wow.
The only other option was Homeland and I don't really have any experience with them.
I'll try again but was disappointed in the Instacart interface and lack of store options.

[mkjeeves]

Just tried Instacart for Aldi. No pickup slots. Delivery available on Thursday? Wow.
The only other option was Homeland and I don't really have any experience with them.
I'll try again but was disappointed in the Instacart interface and lack of store options.

I used them 10 days ago for the first time and got my stuff in less than an hour. Possibly different part of town and maybe more people are using it now.

[soonerguru]

I think they've known all along masks were needed. But they also knew we didn't have enough. Now it's just a mind game. Give the public something to make them feel like they are doing something proactive - "Here, put on a bandana. Best of luck to you."

I think this is correct.

[soonerguru]

I had my first Instacart experience today, also. Got groceries from Homeland (including San Pellegrino in glass bottles and ground beef, two hard to find items). Driver arrived two hours early with a smile and left everything on the porch. I thought their interface was much better than Shipt and a better overall experience, although it may have cost a bit more. Will use again.

[Edmond Hausfrau]

I'll definitely keep trying. I've only used Whole Foods so far. I love that we have so many delivery options now.

[SEMIweather]

Please remember to tip your delivery drivers extra, if you're able.

[SSEiYah]

If everyone wears a mask, home-made or not, I think this how we will be able to bring things back to normal. We cant just leave things shutdown for months. Universal mask wearing has to become a thing, sick or not. If everyone is wearing one, the respiratory droplets stay close and wont infect others if you are asymptomatic or healthy. Sick or not, wear a damn mask.

[BBatesokc]

If everyone wears a mask, home-made or not, I think this how we will be able to bring things back to normal. We cant just leave things shutdown for months. Universal mask wearing has to become a thing, sick or not. If everyone is wearing one, the respiratory droplets stay close and wont infect others if you are asymptomatic or healthy. Sick or not, wear a damn mask.

If we had actual masks available that were made for that general purpose - and we rolled out online, TV and workplace comprehensive instruction on how to properly use and dispose them - I'd tend to agree. But, we don't. We have no supply and no training.

The "Well, this DIY jockstrap, bandana, t-shirt mask I saw online is better than nothing" is pure psychological BS.

Not only is the scarf, t-shirt thingy you're throwing around your face not going to stop a virus that is encapsulated in a droplet that you and I can't even see. It sure as heck isn't going to stop the virus if it is indeed aerosolized. Then there's the reality that people wear that ridiculousness all day, move it around their face, touch it and then toss it in the car or down on a piece of furniture at home - it's now moist with your own perspiration and breath and has most likely trapped some of the virus and you've just cross contaminated who knows what.

We need real masks and we need them in quantities that people can use and dispose of them as they were intended to be used.

We need mobile wash stations and sanitizer throughout there community.

We need people to limit their public exposure, order what you can online, shop in person during non-peak times, wash your damn hands and we need tests to determine who is infected and who has cleared the infection so those people can begin to move about normally or assist in the effort to treat the ill.

I'm still not 100% convinced this virus is going to eventually have the death toll the doomsayers predicted, but it doesn't matter the death toll at tis point, it's here, the economy is in shambles, so we need to just get this over with and our government needs to admit we were caught with our pants down and we have lots of improvements to make in the future.

[RedDollar]

Yeah, but here's what I'm concerned is the true reality, this virus is going to be with us till they find a vaccine. I've seen several doctors on CNBC state that. And they say it will take 18 months to 2 years for a vaccine.

Path forward leaves no easy choices, looks pretty tough to me.

[jonny d]

According to that we have a 9% death rate in Oklahoma. 38 deaths vs 383 recovered. That's really, really bad.

Wait, what? That isn't total cases? We have 1,200ish cases, and 42 deaths in this state. The numbers you compared mean nothing.

[BBatesokc]

Yeah, but here's what I'm concerned is the true reality, this virus is going to be with us till they find a vaccine. I've seen several doctors on CNBC state that. And they say it will take 18 months to 2 years for a vaccine.

Path forward leaves no easy choices, looks pretty tough to me.

Hopefully though, basically everyone will contract the virus and an overwhelming majority will suffer very mild symptoms and the antibodies will prove to remain with us into the fall (fingers crossed)

[ChrisHayes]

According to that we have a 9% death rate in Oklahoma. 38 deaths vs 383 recovered. That's really, really bad.

That's not how you calculate the mortality rate. You divide the number of deaths by the number of cases. 42/1159 = 3.6%. But as others have stated, that's more than likely way high because it's impossible to know how many people have had it and just gotten better.

[RustytheBailiff]

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how f*ing hard is it to post political comments on the political thread? Are some of you really too stupid to make the distinction???

Sorry, I did not mean to offend. I was responding to another poster and I did not believe I was being political, just the facts. When the president of the united states essentially refutes the advice of the Head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, on National TV, and tells the world he is too good to wear a mask - what message does that send to the country, one of confusion perhaps? I do not care what party he represents, he is an inefficient and ineffective leader in this crisis. Now if making a comment of the inadequacies of our elected head of state is political, then please excuse me, I am too stupid to know the distinction.

[Edmond Hausfrau]

Re: mobile handwashing stations and sanitizer.
Wasn't part of the bond vote on city parks to pay for bathrooms with plumbed sinks and toilets?
Bluff Creek playground used to have sink, etc and I understood it was switched to porta potty only due to lack of city $ to maintain bathrooms.
I think having easy access to handwashing in a playground or park is a no brainer, but right now we just count on private businesses to have bathrooms for us all (Shout out to Starbucks and McDonald's).
Public hygiene is a big issue.

[SoonerDave]

Sorry, I did not mean to offend. I was responding to another poster and I did not believe I was being political, just the facts. When the president of the united states essentially refutes the advice of the Head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, on National TV, and tells the world he is too good to wear a mask - what message does that send to the country, one of confusion perhaps? I do not care what party he represents, he is an inefficient and ineffective leader in this crisis. Now if making a comment of the inadequacies of our elected head of state is political, then please excuse me, I am too stupid to know the distinction.

When you make comments other than that specifies in the thread topic, then add your opinion about elected leaders, that's political. Keep it in the pol thread.

[SoonerDave]

Better news in the testing numbers:

Positive: 1252. (up only about 8%)
hospitalization: 330 (up 4%).

Hopeful. Excepting yesterday's jump, the trend is hopeful.

[OKC Guy]

Better news in the testing numbers:

Positive: 1252. (up only about 8%)
hospitalization: 330 (up 4%).

Hopeful. Excepting yesterday's jump, the trend is hopeful.

I think we will start seeing declines in the coming week. Also reading about hospitals putting people on call due to not enough work to keep employees busy.

Saw this on Florida seems encouraging

[Pete]

[OKC Guy]

Wow the daily shows we are past peak increases

[Pete]

Wow the daily shows we are past peak increases

The numbers have tended to go down on the weekend then back up again once the week starts.

We'll see if that pattern holds.

[OKC Guy]

The numbers have tended to go down on the weekend then back up again once the week starts.

We'll see if that pattern holds.

What I see is 5 consecutive days of slowing growth which is encouraging

[RustytheBailiff]

What I see is 5 consecutive days of slowing growth which is encouraging

Five days of slowing grown? Going from 109 to 171 from 4/3 to 4/4? Doesn't appear to be slowing to me -- but what do I know, I'm just a mathematician....