COVID back on the rise in Tulsa and in the nation | Flu-season around the corner – KTUL

COVID back on the rise in Tulsa and in the nation | Flu-season around the corner

by CJ Maclin, KTUL Staff

The coronavirus pandemic is a time many people want to put in the rearview mirror. But now, that virus may be in front of us after a vast rise in cases (KTUL).

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL)

The coronavirus pandemic is a time many people want to put in the rearview mirror.

But now, that virus may be in front of us after a vast rise in cases across the nation.

Newschannel 8 talked with a doctor about the increase in COVID cases.

Almost 4 years ago, Governor Kevin Stitt confirmed the first case of the coronavirus in Oklahoma.

Years later, a different variant of the virus is prevalent today.

Is COVID-19 on the rise in the state of Oklahoma?

Yeah, absolutely. Cases are up very substantially. Just in Tulsa County, there were 190 people hospitalized in one week with COVID-19. The numbers are way up in the state, said Chief COVID Officer for OU Health, Dr. Dale Bratzler.

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in the State of Oklahoma is currently at 15%. Thats 5% above the normal baseline.

That number stretches from Tulsa to Oklahoma City and Lawton.

And COVID-19 hospitalizations have also risen by 20%.

Cases are way up. There were almost 35,000 Americans who were admitted to the hospital with COVID," said Dr. Bratzler. "It predominately impacts the elderly. 65 years of age and older and those who have multiple underlying medical conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

We talked about contracting the virus, we talked about hospitalizations, and have deaths increased as well due to COVID-19?

So, deaths have been going up. 1,600 people died last week from COVID-19. Nationally, [the] death rate is up 15. 6 percent in the past week. So, it has definitely gone up," said Dr. Bratzler.

Dr. Bratzler says Oklahoma hasnt even seen the peak of flu season yet.

He says the states around us are much higher and he expects flu cases to increase as well as COVID-19 cases.

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COVID back on the rise in Tulsa and in the nation | Flu-season around the corner - KTUL