Health

It's not a matter of if you get it... It's when.

The goal is to vaccinate everyone as quickly as possible and the WF - Wichita County Public Health District asks for your patience as they do their best to make that happen.

Oklahoma Democratic State Rep. Jason Lowe has just introduced a new bill. HB 2192 which is being called the "COVID-19 Save Lives Response Act" would make face masks mandatory throughout the state in every county and every town. It would also limit the number of people to 10 total at all nonessential gatherings. There's also a $1,000.00 fine associated with non-compliance to certain mandates listed within the new bill. This is all in response to the state's increasing number of positive COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

The state of healthcare spending in the U.S. has experienced fluctuations in recent years.

January is National Blood Donor Month and the OBI (Oklahoma Blood Institute) could use your help to replenish S.W. Oklahoma's blood supply. The OBI is in desperate need of blood and plasma donors. We're facing a community, state and even National blood shortage.

The 11:00pm curfew for Oklahoma bars and restaurants has been lifted! Over the past 2 days a lot has happened with the mandatory curfew and the extension of Oklahoma's COVID-19 state of emergency orders or mandates. Earlier this week news broke that District Judge Susan Stallings extended a temporary restraining order that put a hold on the enforcement of the curfew for the next 6 months. Several Oklahoma bars and restaurants have filed lawsuits over the curfew and challenged it's enforcement.

Yesterday (01-12-21) Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced a change to the state's official COVID-19 quarantine policy for schools. He was joined by the Secretary of Education Ryan Walters and the Commissioner of Health Dr. Lance Frye at the press conference to announce and discuss the new and updated policies.

Last week the Comanche County Health Department held it's first COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Great Plains Coliseum in Lawton and at the Community Center in Altus. Both locations provided vaccinations to those 65 years of age or older for Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout in the state and the Nation. Another vaccination clinic will be scheduled as soon as more vaccine becomes available.

If like me you're bored to death and looking for something, anything to do I may have a solution. The family and I were sitting around trying to think of an activity we can all do together and that doesn't cost too much, even better if it's free! Well after we starting listing "things to do" hiking came up and everyone agreed we'd hit the trails. It's the perfect weekend activity and will get us all outdoors and moving!

The OSDH (Oklahoma State Department of Health) has launched their new COVID-19 vaccination portal. It will be used as a scheduling tool to help Oklahomans determine when they are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and help them schedule an appointment when it is their turn. This will be the fastest and easiest way to get in line and request a vaccination and stay up to date with the various phases.

If you're needing to be tested for COVID-19 you can stop by the Great Plains Coliseum 920 S.W. Sheridan Road or go to the Comanche County Health Department 1010 S.W. Sheridan Road. Both locations will have FREE drive thru COVID-19 testing today (01-05-21) and on (01-07-21) from 10:00am until 5:00pm.

This week the Comanche County Health Department announced that persons who are 65 years of age or older are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination. The health department will be performing vaccinations in both Lawton and in Altus. In Lawton they'll be set up at the Great Plains Coliseum and in Altus at the Community Center.