Health officials say Oklahoma hospitals can handle the rise in coronavirus cases

Health officials say Oklahoma hospitals can handle the rise in coronavirus cases

CONTRIBUTING TO THE UNDER-REPORTING... OF COVID-19CASES IN THE STATE.

THANKSFOR JOINING US.I'M KAREN LARSEN.

IN FACT -THIS UNDER REPORTING HASHAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES... INTHE PAST MONTH..

TODAY..OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED ABACKLOG OF 820 CASES THATHAVE NOT BEEN REPORTED.STATE HEALTH OFFICIALSRERPORTING 894 NEW CASES INTHE PAST 24 HOURS..

BRINGINGOKLAHOMA'S TOTAL TO MROETHAN 27 THOUSAND ONE HUNDREDCASES.THERE ARE ALSO 9 NEWDEATHS..

ONE EACH INNOBLE, POTTAWATOMIE ANDROGERS COUNTIES... AND TWOIN TULSA COUNTY.

ALL WEREPATIENTS AGE 65 AND OLDER.THE STATE INTERIM HEALTHCOMMISSIONER SAYS THEY HOPETO HAVE THE REPORTING ISSUESSOLVED IN THE COMING DAYS.THEY'RE ALSO UPDATINGOKLAHOMA'S SURGE PLAN FOROKLAHOMA HOSPITALS.2 WORKS FOR YOU'S KATIEKELEHER IS LIVE NOW AT ONEOF THE HOSPITALS ADDING MOREBEDS.

KATIE?HOSPITALS SAY THEY'RE SEEINGA SURGE IN PATIENTS ACROSSTHE STATE.

BUT ARE FULLYEQUIPPED TO KEEP PATIENTS..AND STAFF..

SAFE.THE OKLAHOMA STATE HEALTHDEPARTMENT SAYS IT CURRENTLYHAS 2.5 MILLION N-95 MASKS.28 MILLION GLOVES.

1-POINT-5MILLION K-N-95 RESPIRATORMASKS.

4 MILLION ISOLATIONGOWNS AND COVERINGS.

AND 3MILLION FACE SHIELDS.

ALLOF THESE P-P-E ITEMS -KEEPINGTHOSE ON THE FRONT LINESSAFE.GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT: "We'rein a great position on thePPE side.

We continue tomonitor that daily, getreports from all of ourhospitals, our firstresponders across thestate."HOSPITALS ALSO ADDRESSEDSTAFFING CONCERNS.COVID-19 PATIENTS ARE BEINGDISTRIBUTED ACROSS MULTIPLEHOSPITALSYSTEMS SO THEY DON'TOVERWHELM STAFF.

SOMEHOSPITAL SYSTEMS SAY THEYMAY LOOK TO CONTRACTING OUTFOR HELP.

WHILE OTHERS SAYTHEY MAY MOVE EMPLOYEESAROUND THE STATE WHERETHEY'RE NEEDED.HOSPITAL OFFICIALS ALSO SAYTHEY'RE MANAGING THE CURRENTNUMBER OF I-C-U BEDS.

LIVEIN TULSA, KATIE KELEHER, 2WORKS FOR YOU.IT'S THE HEATED DEBATEACROSS THE COUNTRY.

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