Oklahoma health leaders talk Omicron and another possible surge as COVID-19 cases rise

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma health leaders talked concerning the Omicron variant Tuesday amid rising cases and another potential surge.

More than 4,000 cases have been reported in Oklahoma Tuesday as hospitalizations have now topped 1,000. Nine extra Oklahomans have died as a result of virus. State health leaders have once more, sounded the alarm, saying we could not even hit our projected peak till probably mid-February.

Oklahoma State Department of Health officers stated that the Omicron variant is rising in Oklahoma. Interim Commissioner of Health Keith Reed stated they “anticipate that will continue.” Other specialists added that the outbreak has already exceeded the height that we noticed with the Delta surge.

“We believe that Omicron is the predominant strain of COVID-19 in Oklahoma at this time,” stated Dr. Dale Bratzler, the University of Oklahoma’s Chief COVID-19 officer.

Tuesday evening, surveillance knowledge from the Oklahoma Public Health Lab additionally indicated it was on the rise. Recent sequencing information confirmed a mixture of the Omicron variant in 57 % of specimens whereas the Delta variant was in 43 % of them.

“We should take extra caution out there, but also thinking of the long term that we’re going to continue to see surges and dips,” stated Dr. Aaron Wendelboe, professor of epidemiology on the University of Oklahoma. “We had 4,100 cases approximately reported once during the August surge. We’ve exceeded 4,100 cases twice already in the current surge, and we expect those numbers to continue to increase.”

Wendelboe stated his mannequin initiatives will increase in cases and hospitalizations till no less than mid-February. Though medical doctors stated Omicron is probably not as extreme as different variants, it’s nonetheless extremely contagious. Experts have stated hospitals are apprehensive concerning the spike in cases with 92 % of all sufferers in Oklahoma hospitals being unvaccinated.

“Our hospitals are very full right now and they’re full with a variety of sick people,” stated Patti Davis with the Oklahoma Hospital Association. “So, we are very busy and the hospitals are fearing from what we’re seeing.”

There was additionally a leap in additional than 100 hospital admissions in sooner or later. All of that is happening as testing within the state has barely dropped off resulting from a nationwide provide scarcity. Crest delayed appointments at their Edmond testing web site simply this week.

“Right now, they’re in short supply, it’s difficult to find them,” Bratzler stated. “Health departments are even having difficulty getting them.”

While cases proceed to rise, medical doctors stated hospitalizations and deaths have too, simply not as quick. Meanwhile, IMMY Labs is providing testing at six metro places, and the Oklahoma State Department of Health is increasing its hours as a result of rise in cases. They plan to deploy testing items throughout the state and supply weekend appointments.