Emergency management: Oklahomans currently at low risk
The Bartlesville City Council kicked off its regularly scheduled meeting Monday with a report from Washington County Emergency Management Director Kary Cox on Covid-19, a coronovirus currently creating a global scare with a reported 90,000 confirmed cases and more than 3,000 deaths worldwide.
According to the Center for Disease Control, the virus was first detected in China and has now been detected in 60 locations around the world. Reports indicate that as of Wednesday, 120 cases and nine deaths had been confirmed in the U.S.
Cox told the council Monday the WCEM is monitoring and tracking the virus through the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Oklahoma State Health Department and the Cherokee Nation Health division, but that Oklahomans are currently at very low risk of exposure to the virus.
“Actually, Flu B has been higher in our priorities since October because it has been a pretty serious flu season,” Cox said. “There are currently (120) confirmed cases of Covid-19 and (nine) deaths in the U.S. In comparison, there have been more than 12,000 deaths from Flu B in the U.S. since Oct. 1, and that number is likely to be closer to 20,000-plus.”
Cox also responded to questions regarding plans in place to initiate a large-scale response should it be warranted in the future, saying area agencies are prepared.
“There’s not a plan specifically for corona or specifically for Flu B or any other virus, but we do have a pandemic plan that was developed several years ago with the Oklahoma State Health Department and the CDC. That plan is reviewed and updated annually and is exercised to some degree annually,” he said, noting the latest exercise was last fall.
According to the CDC, Covid-19 is thought to spread mainly from person to person contact and through respiratory droplets produced through coughing or sneezing, which can infect people within a six-foot radius. Symptoms, which may appear two to 14 days within exposure, include fever, cough and shortness of breath. There is currently no vaccine or treatment for the virus. To help limit chances of contracting Covid-19, the CDC recommends the following:
- Wash your hands often — for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wear a face mask if you are sick. The CDC does not recommend face masks for well people (with the exception of medical providers).
- Stay home if you’re sick, except to seek medical care. Contact your medical provider in advance of arrival and wear a face mask when you go.
For more information about Covid-19, visit the CDC’s website.