Oklahoma experts say state is preparing for COVID-19 surge

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — State leaders are watching multiple models.

Most are predicting that Oklahoma’s surge in new infections and deaths will happen anywhere from late April to sometime in May.

The peak happens when those numbers finally start going down.

That’s the so-called flattening of the curve that health officials are watching closely.

“We still think there will be a surge. It looks like in two weeks from now. That could change if we happen to have very effective social distancing,” said Dr. Douglas Drevets, OU Medicine Chief of Infectious Diseases.

Gov. Kevin Stitt says Oklahoma has plenty of personal protective equipment available for hospitals.

“We have 5600 hospital beds in Oklahoma, 958 ICU beds and almost 2,000 ventilators in the state of Oklahoma, said Stitt.

About 40% of ICU beds are available and about 78% of ventilators are waiting to be used.

Personal protection equipment is ready for hospitals when they need it.

“We are in good shape. But I want you to know we are still preparing for a surge on our hospital capacity,” said Stitt.