More than 500,000 US dead from COVID-19

It has been barley more than a year since the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 first became known to Americans, but already more than half a million people in this country have died from the disease, more than in any other nation. It is a number that is difficult to fathom. 218,000 more Americans have died from this virus than were killed in 20 years of the war in Vietnam. In excess of 400,000 more Americans have died of COVID-19 in its first year than died from the “Hong Kong Flu” in the US over three years in the late 1960s.

As of February 22, the number of Oklahoma residents killed by COVID-19 was 4,203, making the illness the third leading cause of death in the Sooner State, behind heart disease and cancer. 674 people in Tulsa County have died of COVID-19, second only to Oklahoma County’s 705.

One of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of the disease is known to be wearing a mask, something Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt refused to mandate, as did the municipal leaders of Broken

Arrow, which has been hit especially hard by the disease and is considered one of the reasons Tulsa County’s infection numbers are so high.

Oklahoma is now in Phase 2 of the vaccination process, which includes adults who have certain underlying health issues and other health care workers not included in Phase 1. The problems the state are now facing are vaccine availability and scheduling. Clinics such as Community Health Connection currently have no vaccines, and the winter storm last week has other vaccination sites in Tulsa County and throughout the state many days behind schedule.

Residents are advised to continue basic safety practices to reduce the spread of the virus, including wearing a mask in public, avoiding large gatherings, washing hands thoroughly and often, and isolating when exposed or potentially exposed. Frequent testing is also recommended.

To find out which phase you are in to receive the vaccine, visit https://vaccinate.oklahoma.gov. (La Semana)