Omicron Sub-Variant Makes Up Half Of All New Oklahoma COVID Cases

More than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, health leaders in Oklahoma are cautiously optimistic.

"Overall very good news, cases have come way down," said Dr. Dale Bratzler, the Chief COVID Officer for OU Health.

Bratzler said the state and country are in much better shape, even with a growing number of cases linked to a subvariant of Omicron called BA.2.

"This new very contagious variant is in Oklahoma, it is spreading,” said Bratzler. “It will spread easily through people particularly those who are unvaccinated."

Waste water testing also continues to show the virus in Tulsa County and statewide. Bratzler said while cases are definitely lower, they're probably artificially low.

"The fact that so many people have the ability now to do a home test rather than come into a health department or hospital or ER and get the PCR test, has it effected the number of cases being reported? And I think yes it definitely has,” said Bratzler.

Oklahoma, unlike some other states, does not have a way to report at-home positive tests. Bratzler said reported cases might decline even further in coming weeks as Oklahoma hospitals consider dropping required COVID-19 testing on patients and before procedures.

"I think once that happens, we're going to see our case counts go down just because fewer people are being currently tested for COVID-19," said Bratzler.