Thread by @CathJSweeney

The State Department of Health briefing has started. We'll be hearing from Commissioner of Health Lance Frye, Deputy Commissioner Keith Reed and Dr. Gitanjali Pai, the chief medical officer. #okhealth

Frye: 50 percent of Oklahomans have received at least one dose. "I know this is no small task." We've been seeing a significant increase in COVID. We've spent a significant amount of time with hospitals, and the former surge plan is still in place.

The governor has approved emergency rules, which among other things, will require hospitals to submit the capacity data they did earlier in the pandemic and will set a floor on the number of COVID samples they send for genomic sequencing. oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok…

Frye says we are going to resume regular media briefings.

Frye is talking about a checklist the department has crafted to help people determine their COVID health risks and to assess which mitigation strategies are right for specific situations. "This can help guide your decision."

Frye, with a point we heard often last summer, especially from the governor: "We need to learn how to adapt and live with this. It is, again, not going away."

Deputy Commissioner Keith Reed with a vaccine update: 41.1 percent of the total population is totally vaccinated, and 50 percent has at least one shot. "With variants increasing throughout the state, now is the best time to do this."

This is all very run-of-the-mill information, and the tone does not appear to be urgent.

Frye: "We've asked the hospital association to go do another survey" on staffing. "The number we had from the previous surge is not the same now." So many people have left the profession. We're not sure what bed capacity is. #okhealth

@ChrisKPolansky Why has it been so long since our last briefing? And can you commit to more regular updates.
Frye: I recognize we haven't had formal briefings, but we are getting information out. "We've answered every question the media have asked of us." (This is not true)

Chris noted he's submitted questions that were declined. Several reporters have shown emails where OSDH declined questions or told them to ask another agency.

Frye: I'm not sure whether an emergency declaration is needed at this time. That's a broad order, as opposed to the order the governor approved now, which is more narrow. #okhealth

@DanielaIbarraTV: We're hearing simultaneously we should listen to the CDC, which recommends indoor mask use, but we also hear it's a personal choice. What message does that send?
Frye: We have been consistent in recommending masks and saying it's a personal choice.

@AngelaShenTV asks about oxygen concerns listed in the documents attached in this story, which OSDH provides state agencies. stateimpact.npr.org/oklahoma/2021/…
"I would not say there is a shortage." But we need to monitor.

Frye on pediatric hospitalizations: When we had the maximum number of hospitalizations, 1,800, there were 78 children in the hospital. Now in current numbers, we're around 40. "The ratio doesn't seem to be a lot different." #okhealth #oklaed

@JonesingToWrite Why are we just now getting emergency rules when the surge has been building for more than a month?
Frye: They're complete now, so we didn't just start working on them. We started weeks ago.

@JonesingToWrite: Is there a point where we say personal responsibility isn't working? We're in the top 10 in all indicators.

Frye: "If you're not going to rely on people to do what they need to do, I think we're in trouble." People are responsible for their own health.

Frye said earlier in the briefing there doesn't seem to be a need for a full emergency order right now, which is why we have the new tailored rules. I asked what would constitute need for a full EO.
Frye: A lot goes into calling one. "I don't know what all is required for that."

@KassieMcClung: Are there any conversations about starting new free mass testing sites?
Reed: A lot of resources that went into those sites has been diverted to vaccinations, which can stop the spread. #okhealth

@DGoforth918 You're saying that if you can't get vaccinated, you should wear a mask. That would mean school-aged kids under 12 need to. The governor seems to say the most important thing is personal choice. Why the disconnect?
Frye: Not contradictory. It's important and a choice.

@ChrisKPolansky We hear today that you default to the governor on what constitutes an emergency. When I ask the governor, they say they're looking to you. So what are your metrics?
Frye: We focus on what OSDH needs to respond, thus new rules. "We are good where we are right now."