OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – While many individuals really feel as if the coronavirus pandemic is over, Oklahoma medical doctors stress that COVID-19 cases are on the rise.
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, over 2,000 new COVID-19 cases have been reported throughout the final week within the Sooner State.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention additionally reported 54 further COVID-19 deaths in Oklahoma.
“We have seen an increase in numbers that is primarily due to a few new circulating variants. About 25% of the circulating variants in this region of the country are due to another offshoot of the omicron variant. This is kind of the third or fourth generation of the original,” mentioned Dr. David Chansolme, INTEGRIS Health Medical Director Infection Prevention.
Dr. Chansolme says that, happily, hospitalizations haven’t elevated as quickly.
“Although there has been about a 20% increase in hospitalizations across the country,” he added.
Dr. Chansolme says that individuals who have been vaccinated but nonetheless contracted omicron have a really excessive immunization price. He says these individuals are much less more likely to be contaminated by these newer variants.
“We don’t test quite as much as we used to, so we may be underestimating the burden of disease in Oklahoma. At any rate, in Oklahoma, we still have not seen a huge increase in the amount of disease. But across the country, cases have increased about 50%,” he mentioned.
He says that if the previous is any indication of what’s going to occur sooner or later, we are able to count on the virus to unfold and cases to rise.
People who’re over the age of fifty are inspired to get a second booster, which might be a fourth shot, at the very least 4 months after their first booster dose.
Dr. Chansolme says that he doesn’t consider COVID-19 is at an endemic stage but, but he believes we’re near it.
“I do think we will continue to see seasonal and occasional spikes in COVID. Again, the way to combat that more than anything is by being vaccinated and making sure that you’re staying abreast of the most recent recommendations,” he mentioned.
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