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September 10, COVID-19 Situation Update

9/10/2020
This article was archived on 11/8/2020

Situation Update

To date, the Tulsa Health Department (THD) has confirmed 14,764 positive COVID-19 cases in Tulsa County. 12,977 residents have recovered and 143 have died. Test results are updated daily at www.tulsa-health.org/COVID19. For the most up-to-date news, information and business resources in Tulsa, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/COVID-19.

CARES Funding Updates

Since the City of Tulsa received $30.9 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds from the State of Oklahoma, $7.7 million has been allocated to nine projects with $23.2 million remaining to be spent.

This week, day shelter facilities were expanded at the former Juvenile Detention Center to help those experiencing homelessness.

“We are grateful to have generous partners in Tulsa that step up when our most vulnerable neighbors need it,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “I want to thank A Way Home for Tulsa, Mental Health Association Oklahoma, and everyone who is working tirelessly to serve homeless Tulsans - and especially the State of Oklahoma for allocating the relief funds that are making this important work possible.”

A total of 16 individuals were served on the first day with more than 60 meals provided by Iron Gate. On Saturday, September 12, Mental Health Association Oklahoma will be providing a free pet vaccination and wellness clinic at the Juvenile Detention Center’s day shelter from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The facility is located at 315 S. Gilcrease Museum Road, Tulsa, OK, 74127.

Also this week, Student Support Camps launched at City recreation centers to help students with distance learning under the supervision of a support aide. A total of 35 children enrolled on the first day.

And since the launch of the Financial Navigators program, which is designed to help Tulsans with financial advice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City has completed 69 sessions at no cost and given callers more than 546 referrals. The top three topics to date are utilities, rent and food pantry assistance.

To learn more and to request a phone appointment with a Financial Navigator, visit: https://www.cityoftulsa.org/government/resilient-tulsa/financial-empowerment/

For more information and to enroll in the Student Support Camps, visit: https://www.cityoftulsa.org/camps

Tulsa Health Department Update

The previous 14-day case trend line is now increasing. As long as the virus continues to spread in the community, residents are at risk of contracting the virus. Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness that may result in hospitalization, intensive care, a ventilator or even death. The best way to protect yourself, protect the most vulnerable, and help reduce the spread of COVID-19 is to follow the “three W’s:”

  1. Wear a mask when you are around anyone who does not reside in your home.
  2. Wash your hands frequently, or use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not readily accessible.
  3. Watch your distance and stay 6 feet away from others.

Testing

The Tulsa Health Department offers specimen collection for COVID-19 testing in north and south Tulsa to provide convenient access for community residents. There is no cost for testing, and it’s easy to quickly make an appointment. Results are received within three business days. Call the Tulsa Health Department at (918) 582-9355 to make an appointment or to speak to a public health professional about COVID-19. A list of other testing sites in the community is available here.

Safety Reminders for In-Person Learning
The Tulsa Health Department urges COVID-19 safety precautions for parents and guardians of school-aged children, particularly for those students in school settings. Any student who has been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 must quarantine for 14 days following the last close contact with the COVID-19 positive individual. Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes. Parents should also keep children out of school if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or if someone in the household is awaiting test results following exposure.

COVID-19 Prevention, Mitigation and Isolation Recommendations
Don’t send your children to school if they are sick.

If your child is waiting on a test result, the public health recommendation is for you to keep your child at home until the test result comes back negative. If your child is awaiting test results because they are sick or were exposed to another positive case, the child should complete the full 14-day quarantine even if the results are negative. If a parent or other household member has been tested for COVID-19 because they are worried they have COVID or have symptoms of COVID, and is awaiting results, keep your child home from school until the household member receives the results of their test.

If your child has been exposed to a positive case, within or outside of school, they still must quarantine for 14 days (even if they receive a negative test).

If the child’s test result comes back positive, do not send the child to school, even if the child has no symptoms. The child must be isolated at home (an adult must be present at home with a young child who is isolated) for at least 10 days (from the date they were tested). Even after the 10 days, the child must be fever free for at least 24 hours and have improved symptoms.

If you have received a positive result from a lab, do not wait on a contact tracer to call you. You must isolate at home.

Parents may need to consider the feasibility of teleworking, taking leave from work, or identifying someone who can supervise your child in the event of school building closures or quarantine.

Safety Plan Review

The Tulsa Health Department continues to provide recommendations to local public and private schools, universities, local events and venues, restaurants, community organizations and faith groups as requested.

Businesses can submit their COVID-19 safety plan for review and recommendations to [email protected].  We will review and provide recommendations, where necessary, in a timely manner.

Data Overview

For the week of August 30 to September 5, Tulsa County saw an 11 percent increase in cases. The age group with the most cases continues to be the 18 – 35 age group, followed by the 36 – 39 age group. The age group with the most growth was the 05 – 17 age group with a 44.59 percent increase in new cases over the previous week.

There were more cases within that age group than in the 65+ age group, marking a change from previous months and weeks. Of those cases associated with a high risk setting, schools had the most cases, followed by long-term care including nursing homes and other residential care facilities. The third-highest risk setting was dormitories and college housing. This is the first week that within high risk settings, schools had more associated cases than long-term care and nursing homes.

This week, we have hospitalizations for all age groups. The city of Tulsa represented 63 percent of all cases within Tulsa County. The portion of Broken Arrow that is within Tulsa County represents 15 percent of all cases. All other municipalities each represent less than 5 percent of cases.

The Tulsa Health Department publishes a weekly heat map of cases available at www.tulsa-health.org/COVID just below the case data dashboard. The dashboard is updated daily.


Translation Assistance

The City’s website, www.cityoftulsa.org, has a tool to help with translation assistance for any page. Website visitors can click the drop down menu on any page that says, “Select Language,” and choose from one of more than 100 different languages.