COVID-19 cases surging across the nation

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As the coronavirus continues to sweep across the nation, more lives are being lost to this. This war will not be won until everyone does their part to help control the spread. Health officials warned that because of the holidays and families gathering together to celebrate, we are going to have a surge upon a surge. As the cases continue to surge, it is almost imminent that a complete shut down is in our near future. What will this do to our local businesses who are already struggling? It is critical that residents wear their masks and help stop the infection rate.

As of Tuesday, Oklahoma has reached a staggering 197,745 positive cases with 1,743 deaths.

On Monday, Bristow, alone, saw an increase of 14 cases since last Friday. We now stand at 374 confirmed cases and 11 deaths. That is too many for our community.

Creek County has now reached 2,706 with 51 deaths from the virus.

Hospitals are running out of room for patients and healthcare workers are exhausted. The appreciation for these workers is overwhelming but consider if we do not have the healthcare workers to take care of the infected, what will we do.

Tulsa Public Schools are reported that because of the infectious rate happening in their communities, the district is going back to distance learning as of Wednesday, this week.

Bristow Public Schools is reporting that Edison Elementary has 12 close contact quarantines; Collins has had one staff member test positive and 15 students are in close contact quarantine; Bristow Middle School has had one staff member who tested positive with three staff members and ten students under close contact quarantine while Bristow High School has one staff member and one student test positive and one staff and 19 close contact quarantines.

The Oklahoma Department of Health reports that 32 percent of cases are in the age group of 18-35; 22 percent in the age group of 36-49; 19 perrcent in the age group of 50-64; 14 percent of cases are 65 and older, while 10 percent is in the age group of 5-17 and two percent in the age group of zero to four years of age.

The county side of the court house has closed its doors for two weeks. The city side still remains open but you must wear a mask to enter the buildings.

A lot of area businesses are requiring a mask to enter the establishment. People are not following the guidelines recommended by the CDC. If things are ever going to get back to a normal, every person must do their part to help conquer this war with this deadly virus.