County Records 1,000 COVID Cases in 90 Days
Posted on Monday, February 1st, 2021
Post-holiday surges of COVID-19 took a terrific toll in Love County. Testing showed 1,000 persons became infected in the 90 days following the Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s celebrations, according to the Health Department.
While 342 Love County citizens had ever tested positive for COVID-19 up to November 2, 2020, the number of positives rose sharply to 1,342 by January 27, 2021, an increase of 1,000 infectious patients.
On that date, a total of 1,235 patients were presumed to have recovered from the disease (14 days had passed since the beginning of their symptoms) and eight residents had died. The county’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported on March 15, 2020.
January had the most new infections -- 436 cases -- of any month to date. A wing of Mercy Health/Love County Hospital was devoted to COVID care for patients too ill from the flu-like virus to be at home. Hundreds more visited the clinic and emergency room for diagnosis and treatment. Cases began to taper off by the end of the month.
The state epidemiologist stated on January 31 that the true case count is likely two-three times higher than what is reported through health departments.
Results from a large statewide sample of blood tests for antibodies showed more than one-quarter of the state’s population of four million had mounted an immune response to COVID-19, while only 400,000 cases had been confirmed positive, said Dr. Jared Taylor.
Immunity through exposure and immunity through vaccine ultimately add up to “herd immunity,” the point at which the pandemic illness ceases to spread.
In late December, Carter-Love Health Department began receiving Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for COVID-19 and administering them at no charge in two-dose increments at the convention center in Ardmore.
The priority group eligible for the shots currently are health care workers, first responders, and Oklahomans age 65 and older. They are scheduled online at the Health Department site, www.vaccinate.oklahoma.gov. Testing for COVID-19 is free at the Health Department and arranged by calling (580) 276-2531.