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Oklahoma breaks all-time record for COVID hospitalizations

OU Health, pictured above, is one of many hospital systems experiencing strain amid the latest surge of coronavirus.
Jackie Fortier
/
StateImpact Oklahoma
OU Health, pictured above, is one of many hospital systems experiencing strain amid the latest surge of coronavirus.

As of Thursday, more Oklahomans are in the hospital for COVID-19 than any time in the pandemic.

For weeks, medical professionals warned that although the omicron strain of the coronavirus is less likely to put someone in the hospital, it is so transmissible that the sheer volume of cases will mean a lot of people end up there.

On Thursday, state health officials reported more than 2,000 people were hospitalized with the virus. That surpasses the all-time record of 1,994. Oklahoma set that record in early January 2021, after the post-holiday spike that year.

Officially, more than 120,000 Oklahomans are currently infected. However, that omits those who tested at home, used a rapid test, or just haven’t been tested. Medical professionals estimate the true number is two to three times higher.

StateImpact Oklahoma is a partnership of Oklahoma’s public radio stations which relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. Donate online.

Catherine Sweeney grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and attended Oklahoma State University. She has covered local, state and federal government for outlets in Oklahoma, Colorado and Washington, D.C.
StateImpact Oklahoma reports on education, health, environment, and the intersection of government and everyday Oklahomans. It's a reporting project and collaboration of KGOU, KOSU, KWGS and KCCU, with broadcasts heard on NPR Member stations.
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