State Medical Experts Discuss The Drop In COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations

The downward trend in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is bringing hope to Oklahomans.

The state now has more than 1,100 COVID 19 patients being treated in Oklahoma hospitals.

A little over two weeks ago, that number was under 2,000.

There's space once again in hospitals for people with COVID-19.

Doctors think this is due to a combination of factors besides getting through the expected holiday surge in cases.

“A number of us are speculating that certain populations that were spreading the disease -- fairly broadly in younger people, people that were going out -- may have actually achieved herd immunity is some of these sub-populations,” said Dr. Dale Bratzler.

Bratzler said an estimated 40% of Oklahomans have already had COVID-19 and now have or had some level of immunity.

He said unfortunately with so many people in the ICU after the holidays, deaths have not gone down dramatically.

Bratzler thinks more people took the virus more seriously during recent spikes and that could be contributing the downward trend in cases.

OU’s chief COVID officer wanted to remind people they can not let up right now with wearing a mask and social distancing.

He said he's seen cases go down big time, only to see them go up big again in the past.

Sadly, due to so many Oklahomans in the ICU, the death count has not dramatically dropped.