On Sunday, November 15, the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported 3,923 new Covid-19 cases in the state. This brought the state’s cumulative number of confirmed cases up to 154,128. There were 12 Covid related deaths in Oklahoma reported on Sunday, bringing the total number of deaths linked to the virus up to 1,528. The coronavirus.health.gov website shows that all 77 Oklahoma Counties are in the orange, or moderate, risk level, the third highest of a four-tiered risk measurement tool. The orange risk level means there is an average of more that 14.29 daily new cases per 100,000 population. The latest statistics from the Oklahoma State Department of Health show that Hughes County has had a total of 501 positive COVID cases that resulted in 7 deaths and 419 recoveries.

The United States surpassed 11 million coronavirus cases on Sunday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The latest milestone comes just six days after the US recorded 10 million cases. It was the fastest the US has added one million new cases since the pandemic began. Oklahoma currently ranks 25th in the number of total reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and 16th in the cumulative incidence (per 100,000 persons) of reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S

Holdenville General Hospital (HGH) CEO Stephen Stewart explains that HGH is adapting to the increase in Covid-19 positive cases in Oklahoma. The increase made it necessary for HGH to keep a few Covid-19 positive patients in the hospital. The north end of the acute care hallway was restricted to positive Covid-19 patients. Temporary dividers have been erected to isolate the north hallway and coworkers entering this area wear the appropriate PPE’s (personal protective equipment) while providing patient care. Prior to this arrangement, HGH transferred Covid-19 positive patients to designated Covid-19 positive units at larger hospitals. Those units are currently close to capacity which required the rural hospitals to admit Covid-19 positive patients in some instances. HGH will still transfer Covid-19 positive patients as appropriate. “HGH has been doing patient care with Covid-19 positive patient from the beginning and this is not a sudden change,” Stewart states. “Patients with Covid-19 symptoms have presented to the ED/ER (emergency department/emergency room) and if appropriate, were transferred to Covid-19 units at larger hospitals. Patients with mild symptoms were allowed to return home as protocols allowed. Some patients were admitted temporarily until Covid-19 beds opened up at the larger facilities.”

“One of HGH’s biggest challenges is lack of access to Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Tests,” Stewart explains. “Critical Access Hospitals were not on the priority list for Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Testing and the HGH Laboratory Manager is working diligently to get access to Rapid Antigen Testing. Mercy Ada Hospital has graciously allowed HGH to share in some of the Rapid Antigen Tests allocated to them. Also Senator Inhofe’s office and an official from the Oklahoma State Department of Health is working with the HGH Laboratory Manager to get access to Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Tests for HGH.”

HGH staff and Medical staff encourages all individuals who are feeling ill to seek medical attention without delay. HGH is providing care for patients in a safe manner. Protective attire such as masks, gowns and gloves are worn during the patient visit. Equipment is wiped down with disinfectant between visits and UVC lights are used to sterilize rooms. Environment Services (housekeeping) clean rooms and public areas every day. Delaying care only makes it worse and may cause a hospital stay instead of just a clinic visit. HGH Clinics are open Monday through Friday and are accepting patients. HGH ED/ER is open 24/7/365 for patients with emergencies.

Suggestions from the Oklahoma State Department of Health for individuals under the orange risk level include: consider wearing face coverings in public; Limit out-of-state travel; Wash hands often for 20 seconds; Maintain physical distance of six feet apart; Don’t touch your face; Stay home if you’re sick; Practice symptom checks prior to team sport competitions or practices; Large or public gatherings and venues are suggested to operate under increased hygiene measures, physical distancing, face coverings, and symptom monitoring; Provide multiple meeting schedules to encourage smaller gatherings, with online streaming as the preferred delivery.