Nurses Find Themselves On Frontlines Of COVID-19 Fight Again As Cases Surge Due To Delta Variant

As the state's COVID-19 numbers dramatically increase, nurses are once again finding themselves on the frontlines.

In the last two weeks, Oklahoma has seen hospitalizations for COVID-19 more than double.

Nurses in the Oklahoma City area and those in hard hit areas of the country at Mercy hospitals told News 9 they haven't even had enough time to process what happened in 2020.

"I didn't think it would be so soon," said nurse Lauren Jerichow.

She along with Emily Alonso both work in the COVID unit at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City.

"I don't know if there is anyway to prepare for this. Essentially it's a war," said Jerichow. "We are fighting a battle that seems like it can't be won."

The pair said their numbers at the hospital have doubled in a week, jumping from around 15 to upwards of 30.

"You can't prepare to put someone in a body bag," said Jerichow.

It's something both nurses have seen in the last week.

They said this time, it's younger people their admitting, with a majority of people in their 20s to 40s.

That's a trend nurses in Springfield, Missouri, are also seeing.

"Most of them are my mom's age or my age coming in," said 23-year-old Mercy nurse Erin Baker.

She posted a video diary on Facebook about what she has been experiencing on the frontlines in Springfield.

"It's hard," Baker said in the video. "I never expected this. Please consider getting the vaccine."

The nurse said she's had people fighting the virus from the hospital asking if they will be able to get a shot.

"I had a lady ask me, 'if we do survive this, can we get the vaccine? Are we eligible to get the vaccine?'" said Baker. "The answer is yes."

That's her and Mercy's message to people in Missouri and Oklahoma.

"A sore arm and being sick at your house all day is nothing compared to being at the hospital fighting for your breath," said Baker.

Click here to see Baker's video.