LAWTON - COVID-19 cases at Comanche County Memorial Hospital and Lawton Public Schools were inching upward Monday as the Omicron variant continues to hit all parts of Oklahoma.
CCMH reported 31 COVID patients hospitalized as of Jan. 3 with 22 being unvaccinated. At the same time, 16 patients were still waiting on an open bed since the hospital was full. Five patients were admitted to the intensive care unit and all of them were unvaccinated, the hospital reported. In addition, 13 COVID patients needed mechanical breathing assistance.
Lawton schools reported six students remained in isolation because of positive COVID tests, which was up one student from the previous report. All of the isolation cases come from Eisenhower Middle School, the most recent report show.
The district also reported 27 students were in quarantine as of Jan. 3 because of close contacts with someone who tested positive. No teachers or staff members were in isolation or quarantine as of Jan. 3.
With COVID19 testing in higher demand and increased cases over the last week, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is extending COVID-19 testing hours at local county health departments, and will offer weekend availability at select locations. Additionally, mobile units will be deployed to various locations throughout the state.
Testing locations and hours can be found by visiting oklahoma.gov/ covid19/testing-sites or county health department Facebook pages. Oklahomans can also call their local county health department or 2-1-1 for hours and locations.
The county health departments in southwest Oklahoma will extend their hours to accommodate COVID-19 vaccinations and testing and a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site will be held in Lawton.
Health officials say they will remain open until 6 p.m. once a week for COVID-19 vaccinations and testing, and in Comanche, Jackson and Caddo counties, the health department will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“This is a short-term, interim solution in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, given increased travel over the holidays,” said Brandi Combs, District 5 Regional Administrative Director for the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
Combs said 112 people have been hospitalized in southwest Oklahoma with COVID-19 and 24 are in ICU, which is second only to the Oklahoma City metro area.
“If you’re six months out from your vaccination, then people need to get their booster,” she said. “There are better outcomes for people who are vaccinated and have the booster than those who are unvaccinated. We have to help the hospitals by getting vaccinated and wearing masks.”
Combs says the extended hours for testing is for individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and those who may have been exposed to the virus in the last three to five days.
District 5 serves a 10-county region including Beckham, Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kiowa, Tillman and Washita Counties.
Individuals are encouraged to register prior to arrival for their COVID-19 testing even though walk-ins are available based on availability. Appointments are encouraged and can be made online at osdh. immytech.com.
The schedule for extended county health department hours include:
Beckham County • Elk City: Thursday, January 6 and in Sayre: Tuesday, January 11 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Caddo County • Wednesday, January 12 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. • Saturday, January 8 and Saturday, January 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Comanche County • Monday, January 10 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. • Saturday, January 8 and Saturday, January 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cotton County • Thursday, January 6 and Thursday, January 13 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Greer County • Wednesday, January 12 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Harmon County • Tuesday, January 11 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Jackson County • Monday, January 10 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. • Saturday, January 8 and Saturday, January 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kiowa County • Tuesday, January 11 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tillman County • Thursday, January 6 and Thursday, January 13 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.