Culture & the Family
Ray Carter | February 4, 2022
Steep decline reported for active COVID cases in Oklahoma
Ray Carter
The number of active COVID cases in Oklahoma has plummeted by 49 percent over a 10-day period, according to data released by the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH).
OSDH reports that there were 133,175 Oklahomans with active cases of COVID-19 on Jan. 25. That figure has since steadily declined to 67,444 active cases reported as of Feb. 4.
Generally, the omicron variant of COVID-19 has been marked by rapid spread, leading to significant increases in case counts, followed by often-rapid decline.
While the dramatic surge in COVID cases associated with the omicron variant means greater sickness among the general population, those who recover are believed to have natural immunity that provides greater protection against future variants.
In addition, COVID vaccinations remain readily available. While the vaccines do not necessarily prevent infection, they are associated with a reduced incidence of severe health outcomes or death from COVID.
The state’s most recent Weekly Epidemiology and Surveillance Report shows that 95 percent of Oklahomans age 65 and older, the group most likely to experience severe health outcomes from COVID, have received at least one vaccine shot. Among those age 18 and older, 83.3 percent have received at least one vaccination shot.
Ray Carter
Director, Center for Independent Journalism
Ray Carter is the director of OCPA’s Center for Independent Journalism. He has two decades of experience in journalism and communications. He previously served as senior Capitol reporter for The Journal Record, media director for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and chief editorial writer at The Oklahoman. As a reporter for The Journal Record, Carter received 12 Carl Rogan Awards in four years—including awards for investigative reporting, general news reporting, feature writing, spot news reporting, business reporting, and sports reporting. While at The Oklahoman, he was the recipient of several awards, including first place in the editorial writing category of the Associated Press/Oklahoma News Executives Carl Rogan Memorial News Excellence Competition for an editorial on the history of racism in the Oklahoma legislature.