YUKON, Okla. (KFOR) – COVID-19 circumstances and hospitalizations are ramping up once more. Oklahoma State Department of Health reported 2,160 new infections in simply the previous day. On the identical time, the virus is sending extra Oklahomans to the hospital. That quantity was up 39 from Tuesday and inching nearer to 900.
Well being officers say almost all of these sufferers are unvaccinated, and, in some cases, those that are already sick are asking for the vaccine when it is too late.
“We’re dropping nurses. We’re dropping healthcare skilled workers who’re burnt out attempting to deal with folks, folks now which are unvaccinated,” stated Don Blose, Spanish Cove Retirement Village CEO.
Hospital beds are filling again up. August 2023 is already trying like 2023.
“It’s spreading. I feel we’re nonetheless at the start of this peak. We’re nonetheless peaking. We’re gonna peak for this time,” Blose stated.
On Wednesday, OSDH 2,160 new circumstances of COVID-19 recorded in simply 24 hours.
“Now, to see the pandemic as soon as once more rearing its ugly head, particularly among the many unvaccinated inhabitants, that’s actually regarding,” Blose stated. “The most effective factor we are able to do is put up a wall of protection for our residents that dwell right here. Top-of-the-line methods, in fact, is to be vaccinated.”
Blose beforehand labored because the state’s immunization director for 12 years. He at the moment serves as CEO of Spanish Cove Retirement Village in Yukon, the place he has seen first-hand ache from the pandemic.
He’s now working arduous to advertise the vaccine inside these partitions.
“It’s disheartening to see tales on Channel 4 and different information stations that present folks within the hospitals begging. They’re sick with COVID. They’re begging their physician for the vaccine. It’s too late,” Blose stated.
He says even when these sufferers got a shot whereas on dying’s door, it wouldn’t make a distinction.
The vaccines want just a few weeks to develop into efficient within the physique, and longer should you get Pfizer or Moderna, each of which require a booster shot.
“For those that are unvaccinated, I’d urge them to get vaccinated now. You don’t wanna be sick and also you don’t need your loved ones members to develop into sick,” Blose stated. “Two sticks within the arm are lots higher than lots of needles caught in you in a hospital.”
On Wednesday, we discovered a further 17,000 Oklahomans at the moment are thought-about absolutely vaccinated in comparison with one week in the past. That is 40 p.c of the state’s inhabitants.