Active Covid-19 cases decrease in Oklahoma

 

August 12, 2022



Data released by the Oklahoma State Department of Health on Thursday, Aug. 11, shows a slight increase in people testing positive for Covid-19 in Woods County. However, statewide totals are down a little from last week.

Alva has 22 positive cases, up one from last week. Waynoka also increased by one with six cases this week compared to five in last week’s report. Dacoma and Freedom are still showing no cases. The OSDH lists any total less than five as zero.

The state of Oklahoma has 19,703 active cases of Covid-19 as of Thursday’s OSDH report, down from 20,663 last week.

Around the area, Buffalo is listed at zero, down from nine last week. Cherokee has eight active cases, up from zero. Fairview has 24 cases, an increase of nine from last week. Woodward is shown with 66 active cases, up from 41 a week ago. Enid has a total of 285 active cases, up from 217 last week.

How Long to Test Negative?

The LA Times says the rule of thumb “five days and you are clear” is a misconception:

"If your test turns out to be positive after five days, don’t be upset because the majority of people still test positive until at least Day 7, to Day 10 even," Dr. Clayton Chau, director of the Orange County Health Care Agency, said during a briefing Thursday. "So that’s the majority. That’s the norm."

Dr. Robert Kosnik, director of UC San Francisco's occupational health program, said at a campus town hall in July that there's an expectation people will test negative on Day 5 and can return to work the next day.

"Don't get your hopes up," Kosnik told his colleagues. "Don't be disappointed if you're one of the group that continues to test positive."

In fact, some 60% to 70% of infected people still test positive on a rapid test five days after the onset of symptoms or their first positive test, meaning they should still stay in isolation, Kosnik said.

"It doesn't significantly fall off until Day 8," he said.

The California Department of Health gives clear guidance on what to do once you test positive for Covid-19:

If you test positive or have symptoms of Covid-19, you should stay away from others, even at home and even if you have been vaccinated. Isolate for at least 5 full days after your symptoms start, or after your first positive test date if you don’t have symptoms.

Ending isolation: You can end isolation after 5 days if you test negative (use an antigen test) on Day 5 or later – as long as you do not have a fever and your symptoms are getting better. If you still test positive on or after Day 5 or if you don’t test, isolate for 10 full days, and until you don’t have a fever. It is strongly recommended that you wear a well-fitting mask around others – especially when indoors – for 10 days, even if you stop isolating earlier.

 

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