{"id":21126,"date":"2022-02-04T03:16:10","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T03:16:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/?p=21126"},"modified":"2022-02-04T15:56:42","modified_gmt":"2022-02-04T15:56:42","slug":"covid-19-cases-in-tulsa-hit-record-highs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/2022\/02\/04\/covid-19-cases-in-tulsa-hit-record-highs\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 Cases in Tulsa hit record highs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Gary Lee, The Oklahoma Eagle<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The latest wave of the COVID-19-19 Pandemic is devastating Oklahoma, including Tulsa. City officials last week reported a record spike in infections, pile-ups in hospitals, and daily school closings due to staff shortages.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This week there were 12,617 new COVID-19 infections in Tulsa Country, according to the Tulsa Health Department (THD). That’s more than at any other period since the start of the Pandemic. Since early 2020, there have been 150,136 COVID-19 cases in Tulsa. Although the number of total infections across the state was down slightly from the previous week, it was still twice the previous peak rates for the virus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tulsa’s Black community – where only one of three people has received a full COVID-19 vaccination – has been hit hardest. Since the start of 2022, the virus has engulfed the community. Every North Tulsan has a neighbor, cousin, church member, or someone in their close circles -who’s tested positive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the past three weeks, from Turley to Brady Heights, Springdale to Gilcrease Hills, every neighborhood on the Northside – and anywhere else in the city – has been under a Code Red COVID-19 alert by the THD’s account. The highest alert level, it indicates an extreme risk of COVID-19 infection. It comes with a warning that residents should only leave their homes for food shopping and other essential errands. No one should be popping into QuikTrip for scratch-off lottery tickets or driving over to Sonic for a sub sandwich. They should stay at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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New cases are filling Tulsa hospitals<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If Oklahoma’s health care facilities are any yardstick, the COVID-19 situation is most dire it has been in the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  
The state ranks worst in the U.S. for the rate of COVID-19-19 hospital admissions, according to the latest federal data published Wednesday. Oklahoma has registered 30.1 COVID-19 admissions per 100 inpatient beds. That means three of every 10 inpatient beds are in use by COVID-19 patients\u202f\u2014 is the highest yet of the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Bruce Dart, director of the Tulsa Health Department, said Tulsa’s health systems are “simply overwhelmed.” The recent three-day average for COVID-19-related hospitalizations in Tulsa County is 508. Health experts say 104 of those patients are in the ICU. That’s slightly up from two weeks ago. Dart said that the vast majority of COVID-19 cases in Tulsa hospitals are unvaccinated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tulsa health facilities reflect the trend. Every local hospital is crowded with COVID-19 patients. Recent visitors to popular local hospitals have expressed shock at the scenes. This week after a trip, this week to Ascension St, John’s, a patient texted relative reporting that patients were lined up with beds in some hallways. “This place looks like a war zone,” they said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Princetta Rudd, a North Tulsa storyteller, observed a similar situation at Hillcrest this week. “Everybody seemed so tired and worn out,” she said. “It was sad.”  Even when hospitals have beds, they are short of staff to treat patients. As a result, some COVID-19 patients have reported waiting up to ten hours in emergency rooms to see a health care worker.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Morton Comprehensive Health Care, the largest Northside medical facility, forty percent of patients who come for COVID-19 tests are getting positive, Cassie Clayton, Morton’s chief nurse, said in an interview with the Eagle. Clayton explained that that’s way up from around 15 percent a couple of months ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stitt has taken a hard stance against mask mandates in Oklahoma public schools. He supported Oklahoma Senate Bill 658, which prevented schools from issuing mask mandates unless the Governor declared a state emergency.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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The omicron variant is rampant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One worrisome trend is a rise in symptom-free COVID-19 cases. She added that many patients at Morton are turning out to be infected without knowing it. They come in for treatment for something else and test for COVID-19. To their surprise, the results are positive. While a patient without symptoms might be relieved, they could unknowingly transmit the virus to someone who could develop symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Tulsa, like much of the rest of the U.S., the fast-moving omicron variant is one of the most significant factors to blame for the spike in rates, according to THD’s Dart and other health officials. Dart said it’s too early to tell when the current omicron wave will peak in Tulsa. According to Clayton, the highly contagious variant has also hit several Morton staff members. She said around 15 percent have called in sick since the beginning of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 has also affected teachers and staff in schools all over the city, including the Northside. On Wednesday, the Northside’s Hamilton Elementary and Southside Hoover were closed for in-person learning but reopened Thursday. On Thursday, North Tulsa-based Hawthorne Elementary closed. The Tulsa Public Schools take stock of staff illnesses every evening and post a list of schools that would not offer in-person classes every morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sudden closures, in turn, require parents to pivot to make sure that younger kids have home supervision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stitt Executive Order<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Governor Stitt issued Executive Order 2022-01 to help keep schools open for in-person learning by authorizing state agencies to allow employees to substitute teach without losing employment, pay or benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI’ve said from the beginning that our students deserve an in-person education and our schools need to stay open. The state has a responsibility to do what we can to help make that happen, which is why I have signed this executive order to help schools suffering from staffing shortages,\u201d\u202fsaid Governor Stitt.\u202f\u201cI appreciate schools and teachers that are doing everything they can to provide in-person learning for their students, as well as the business community for stepping up.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far, no state officials have volunteered to substitute teach in Tulsa Public Schools, according to a TPS spokesperson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister quickly batted Stitt’s executive order concerning substitute teachers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe all agree it is best for schools to be open, and I appreciate that the governor has finally recognized this crisis,” she said.  “But we need caring, equipped teachers in classrooms and for the focus to be on learning. This gesture is a cup of water on a raging fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The immediate problem is that we are in the middle of a tremendous surge, impacting more than schools. Oklahomans are seeing the ramifications of COVID-19 in their workplaces, churches and families.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deaths due to COVID-19 complications in Tulsa are remaining steady. Last week, there were 26 COVID-19 deaths in Tulsa by the account of the TCHD. That brings the total deaths throughout the Pandemic to 1,880. Blacks account for 8.75 of those deaths, or around 164 persons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George Riley, the funeral director in charge of Jack’s Memory Chapel, said he had seen an uptick in all deaths in the past four months, but not in COVID-19 deaths. Although fatalities are rising, it does not mean that COVID-19 deaths are increasing in the community,” he said in an interview with the Oklahoma Eagle.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

High rates of COVID-19 have raged throughout Oklahoma since the end-of-year holidays. The spiking COVID-19 rates in Oklahoma are the fourth highest of any state in the U.S. While the contagious nature of omicron is a significant driver, many critics blame Gov. Kevin Stitt — and other municipal officials – for their poor management of the COVID-19 health crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Many blame Gov. Stitt<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Stitt has taken a high-profile stance against many of the measures the Center for Disease Control and the Biden administration in Washington has recommended preventing the spread of COVID-19. Stitt has taken a hard stance against mask mandates in Oklahoma public schools. He supported Oklahoma Senate Bill 658, which prevented schools from issuing mask mandates unless the Governor declared a state emergency. But a regional court imposed a temporary injunction against the bill, and around 65 percent of schools in Oklahoma, including Tulsa public schools, have imposed mask mandates. Stitt has said publicly he has no plans to receive a booster shot  Dart at THD to Clayton at Morton health clinic are all sounding the same call for everyone to get vaccinated. In contrast, state and Tulsa health officials have said that the best step Tulsans can take to control the virus is getting a vaccine and a booster. State Department of Health, interim\u202fHealth Commissioner Keith Reed said booster shots for the vaccine could still help mitigate this winter’s COVID-19-19 surge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About Our COVID-19 Coverage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The coronavirus has brought unanticipated and signi\u00adficant challenges to our families and our communities. And how we respond to this pandemic continues to be one of the most impactful issues in our lives. At The Oklahoma Eagle, we feel a responsibility to ensure we share the full picture with you. Our team has published dozens of stories since March 2020, launched a community project Tulsa Above COVID dedicated to give our audience a voice to share their personal stories, Q&As and updates. Much of this reporting goes beyond breaking news and reflects the enterprising journalism we have consistently produced, going back 101 years. We strive to provide you with the kind of journalism that rarely appears in other local media. The entire state of Oklahoma remains a hot spot for cases. Four of state\u2019s eight poorest zip code areas \u2013 74106, 74110, 74115 and 74126 \u2013 are in North Tulsa where 8.6% of all COVID-19 cases (150,136) have been reported by the Tulsa Health Department. As of Jan. 28, 1,880 people have died in Tulsa County, including 160 (or 8.75%) have been African American and 105  (5.74%) America Indian\/Alaska native.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Gary Lee, The Oklahoma Eagle The latest wave of the COVID-19-19 Pandemic is devastating Oklahoma, including Tulsa. City officials last week reported a record spike in infections, pile-ups in hospitals, and daily school closings due to staff shortages.   This week there were 12,617 new COVID-19 infections in Tulsa Country, according to the Tulsa Health…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21195,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[],"thb-sponsors":[],"class_list":["post-21126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-covid"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21126","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21126"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21134,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21126\/revisions\/21134"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21126"},{"taxonomy":"thb-sponsors","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/thb-sponsors?post=21126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}