Oklahoma Breaks 700 In COVID-19 Hospital Patients, New State Record

The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported 738 patients with COVID-19 are in a hospital, a new high for the state. 

A majority of the patients are in Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties, with 233 and 185 each, respectively. 

On Tuesday, Oklahoma Commissioner of Health Lance Frye reassured the State Board of Health that hospitals have open beds. 

“I’ve taken a look at all that thoroughly and can say that we still have capacity in the state, we’re still doing okay,” Frye said in the virtual meeting. 

The number of hospitalized patients has grown in recent months. Tuesday’s total is the first to break 700 since the start of the pandemic. 

According to the OSDH daily report, 14% of intensive care beds and 18% of medical surgery beds were available in hospitals across the state. 

Frye said the state expected case numbers to go up months ago when the state relaxed closures meant to prevent the spread of the virus. 

“We knew that once people started moving around the numbers would come back up, inevitably. So, we wanted to be prepared for those. Luckily, we have been. Even though our numbers have gone up, we’ve maintained hospital capacity,” he said. 

Dr. George Monks, the president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association said the rise in hospitalizations is concerning ahead of the winter season. 

“We're entering flu season now with the hospital system being strained,” Monks said. “You have to go get your flu vaccination this year. It’s really important, we have to save as many beds as possible for those COVID patients.” 

LaWanna Halstead, the vice president of the Oklahoma Hospital Association said staffing is a concern going forward. 

“Hospitals are currently very busy with both COVID patients and other members of the community needing health care. Our biggest issue is having the staff to take care of patients,” Halstead said.