OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma State Department of Health is launching a new color-coded map to identify the risk of COVID-19 throughout parts of the state.
The COVID-19 Alert System is a four-tiered risk measurement tool with corresponding color categories that identify the current COVID-19 risk level by county, according to OSDH officials.
This new COVID-19 alert system marries OSDH’s robust data reporting with additional public health steps that should be considered county by county to confront elevated risks of community spread. The color-coded system is an easy way for business owners, local leaders, and the public to know at a glance when extra precautions should be taken.
Each color category is based on daily new cases per 100,000 population, officials said. The color-coded county map will be updated every Friday and will be based on the 7-day rolling average:
- Green: 0 < 1.43 daily new cases per 100,000 population
- Yellow: 1.43 < 14.39 daily new cases per 100,000 population
- Orange: > 14.39 daily new cases per 100,000 population
- Red: > 14.39 daily new cases per 100,000 plus one of four additional gates triggered
A county will be deemed as high-risk if the county is reporting more than 14.39 daily new cases per 100,000 and one or more of the four thresholds occur in the State within a given week, according to OSDH officials.
- Statewide ICU threshold: Percent of ICU beds available <5% statewide
- Statewide Medical/Surgical threshold: Percent of medical surgery beds available <5% statewide
- Statewide Ventilator threshold: Percent of ventilators available <5% statewide
- Facility PPE threshold: Average days of PPE on hand and available < 5 days statewide
The State will work with local officials in red counties on a remediation plan.
The red phase is triggered when additionally assessing statewide health system capacity definitions, assumptions and plans in the Oklahoma Hospital Surge Planning Toolkit and with assessing numbers based on hospitals’ bed capacity at 100%, according to OSDH officials. This status indicates statewide, systemic challenges and pressures on the healthcare system due to the coronavirus.
Tulsa County is currently one of four counties in the orange "moderate risk" zone.
For more information about the new alert system, visit the state health department's website.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
