Local Health Experts Cite Increasing COVID-19 Variants In Oklahoma

Local health experts say Oklahoma ranks lowest in the nation for the number of new COVID-19 cases per day, even though they are seeing more variants of the virus in the state.

Last week, the state health department identified 17 cases of the COVID-19 variant that originated in India. Three of those cases were fully vaccinated people and two were partially vaccinated.

"Certainly, data from the WHO, from the UK, and other countries says this variant spreads more rapidly than other variants and it doesn't seem to be as protected by the antibodies generated by current vaccines," said Dr Dale Bratzler of OU Health.

Health experts say more Oklahomans need to get the vaccine to achieve herd immunity.