LAWTON – COVID-19 numbers in Oklahoma have been spiking and the reasons are not entirely clear. However, one thing is clear: Oklahoma now ranks as fifth in the U.S. for COVID-19 cases.
According to the state Health Department, for the week of September 11, Oklahoma had 6,618 cases reported, a 16.7 percent increase from the prior week. There were 54 deaths that week related to COVID-19, a 31.7 percent increase from the week before.
The report notes that 5,698 confirmed cases were hospitalized total, while 380 of those cases were hospitalized this past week, according to the OSDH.
The average age of cases was 40 years old. The youngest case was less than a year old and the oldest case was over 100 years old. And out of Oklahoma’s 77 counties – including Comanche County – there has been at least one case of COVID-19 reported during the week.
Gov. Kevin Stitt, who last amended his March 15, 2020, executive order on August 28, 2020, the date that Oklahoma experienced its 55,550th case of COVID-19, has repeatedly dismissed the notion that a mandate should be put in place to require all citizens to wear a mask while in public, saying that it is something better left to individuals.
In his executive order, Stitt tells Oklahomans to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines regarding social distancing and gatherings in groups. Since August 28th, there appears to be no other public statements from the Governor’s Office regarding the coronavirus crisis.
Southwest Ledger reached out to Stitt’s office and, as of this week’s deadline, had not received a reply regarding our questions about mask mandates and why Oklahoma is considered a “hot spot.”
One area of concern has been the state’s correctional facilities. Conditions are such that advocates for inmates, including the mothers of some of those inmates, rallied at the State Capitol on Sept. 18 to bring attention to the fact that COVID-19 has been spreading through the close-quartered facilities overseen by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
According to the state’s ODOC website, the Joseph Harp Correctional Center in Lexington reported this week that 13 inmates were positive for COVID-19, while two have been hospitalized and three have died.
At the Lawton Correctional Facility, seven inmates have been reported positive for coronavirus, with seven in isolation and five of 54 in quarantine. Additionally, 11 inmates have reportedly recovered.
And this week, the ODOC announced that staff at a “hot” correctional facility in the state will receive “hazard pay,” which is a $2 an hour supplement, in effect immediately, the department noted in a press release.
“ODOC automatically declares a facility ‘hot’ when at least 20 percent of the population in a facility with celled housing tests positive for COVID-19, or at least 15 percent in open bay housing.”
OSDH VIEW ON SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA AND THE COVID-19 CRISIS
Southwest Ledger spoke to Brandie Combs via email. She is the OSDH regional director of District 5, covering Southwest Oklahoma.
The following is a Q&A we had with Combs this week, following the latest numbers report.
Q. What are the number of COVID-19 cases in Lawton and southwest Oklahoma?
A. Comanche County – 1,492 (total cases). Southwest Oklahoma – 3,626 (total cases). Includes the 10 counties in District 5: Beckham, Caddo, Coman- che, Cotton, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kiowa, Tillman and Washita counties
Q. Why is COVID-19 still a problem in Lawton-Fort Sill and southwest Oklahoma?
A. I hate to state the obvious and in no way mean to be catty, but COVID is still a problem because people continue to test positive. We do not have a vaccine available; therefore, we must rely heavily on the public to combat the spread of this virus. Some of the measures we ask the public to engage in may or may not be received; such as wearing a face covering when physical distancing isn’t possible, avoiding large gatherings, staying home when not feeling well and getting tested to determine if infected.
Until each of us take re- sponsibility for our behaviors, we will continue to see the virus spread. I would like to believe no one would want to infect a loved one, a child or someone categorized as vulnerable. We have seen in many communities the det- rimental affect COVID can have if introduced to a long-term care facility and do not want another community to have that experience.
Our best chance at preventing the spread is to wear a face covering when physical distancing isn’t possible, wash hands frequently and stay away when not feeling well. This isn’t opinion. Its science and at this point, it’s really all we have to slow the spread.
Q. What more can be done to lower the numbers in your region?
A. In addition to the comments in question 2, complying with quarantine and/ or isolation orders issued by the health department is another important part of reducing the spread of COVID-19. In no way does the health dept enjoy or relish in restricting movement in the public. However, it’s our statutory obligation to protect the public. That isn’t always looked upon favorably; however, I hope the intent and responsibility is valued. For the most part, health department staff have encountered many people willing to comply and stay home yet, there are those few.
While Combs did not specifically address the issue of Fort Sill’s role in recent spikes, she did thank the staff at the county health departments throughout southwest Oklahoma.
“They are doing a tremendous job,” Combs said. “This is unprecedented time in public health. Many people, organizations and healthcare systems across southwest Oklahoma have gone above and beyond, made hard policy decisions and stepped up in untraditional ways to assist in the response to this pandemic.”