Dr. Bratzler COVID-19 Oklahoma Update

Health officials say they are concerned about the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Oklahoma and the demand it is putting on hospitals.

Dr. Dale Bratzler with OU Health says Oklahoma now ranks 6th in the country for new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

He says hospitals across the state are also filling up. Just under 1,000 people were in the hospital with COVID-19 Friday.

More than 2,300 cases were reported Saturday, bringing the seven-day rolling average to about 1,900.

Dr. Bratzler says the state is seeing as many new cases now as we had in November.

The Tulsa Health Department also gave an update on the situation.

Dr. Bruce Dart says the three-day average for COVID hospitalizations in Tulsa county is 351 patients, with 111 in the ICU.

"Our regional neighbors in Missouri, Arkansas and Texas, are nearing record high hospitalizations as well and the writing on the wall is clear, that will soon be our reality if we can't slow the trajectory of our cases here in Tulsa County." he said.

Dr. Dart does recommend wearing masks in public, regardless of your vaccination status.