Omicron Surge Putting Strain On Tulsa County Hospitals

Tulsa health experts say local hospitals are feeling the strain of the current surge in COVID-19 cases.

Dr. Bruce Dart with the Tulsa Health Department says the city's health systems are simply overwhelmed.

The recent three-day average for COVID-related hospitalizations in Tulsa County is 508.

Health experts say 104 of those patients are in the ICU. That's slightly up from two weeks ago.

Dr. Dart says while it's true the number of deaths is down; he says people are still ending up in the hospital.

Dr. Dart says this surge is hitting hospitals differently than it did during the Delta surge because of the increased number of infections.

He says hospitals are dealing with staffing shortages just like many schools and businesses.

He also says health care workers are having to self-isolate and quarantine due to virus exposure.

"The hospitals are being overwhelmed by the sheer number of infections," Dr. Dart said. "We've got to prevent exposure. We've got to prevent infection, not only to keep people safe but also to maintain the viability of our health care systems."

Dr. Dart says it is too soon to say if the current surge has reached its peak in Tulsa County.