“Effects of COVID-19 in Oklahoma” survey results

(TULSA, Okla.) The first positive case of COVID-19 in Oklahoma was confirmed on March 7. The first COVID-19-related death in Oklahoma occurred on March 15. On Monday, Oklahoma State Department of Health officials reported 13,172 positive cases to date, and 385 deaths. Oklahoma is currently in Phase 3 of the state’s Open Up and Recover Safely Plan, as of June 1: https://www.okcommerce.gov/covid19/ours-plan/ VNN surveyed Oklahomans throughout the month of June to find out how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected them since it began. Here are some of the results: 51.5% said their job has not been affected by COVID-19. 48.5% said their job has been affected by COVID-19. 78.8% said they did not file for unemployment. 21.2% said they did file for unemployment. 57% of people who applied for unemployment reported problems receiving it. 42% of people who applied for unemployment are still having problems receiving it. 81.8% said they believe social distancing is necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19. 18.2% said they do not believe social distancing is necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19. But how many people practiced social distancing themselves? From April to June, the number of people using all social distancing measures steadily dropped. During that same timeframe, the number of respondents who said they used no measures steadily increased. MARCH 15.2% No measures 30.3% Some measures 54.5% All measures APRIL 9.1% No measures 33.3% Some measures 57.6% All measures MAY 15.2% No measures 48.5% Some measures 36.4% All measures JUNE 30.3% No measures 51.5% Some measures 18.2% All measures Less than 1% said they never visit public places. 72.7% said they sometimes visit public places. 24.2% said they visit public places all the time. 33.3% said they never wear a mask in public. 45.5% said they sometimes wear a mask in public. 21.2% said they always wear a mask in public. 63.6% said other people should wear masks in public. 36.4% said other people should not wear masks in public. Most respondents believed the pandemic has either somewhat been handled well or not at all. And statewide leadership was thought to be better off than national. STATEWIDE 15.2% Handled well 51.5% Somewhat handled well 33.3% Not handled well NATIONWIDE 12.1% Handled well 30.3% Somewhat handled well 57.6% Not handled well The same was said about trusting information from health officials. STATEWIDE 21.2% Trust information provided by health officials 48.5% Somewhat trust information provided by health officials 30.3% Do not trust information provided by health officials NATIONWIDE 18.2% Trust information provided by health officials 45.5% Somewhat trust information provided by health officials 36.4% Do not trust information provided by health officials Comments regarding contracting COVID-19 included: “I think there needs to be more antibody testing to see if more people have had it before last year.” “In the hospital for 13 days, now living on oxygen 24/7 because of the damage it did to my lungs.” “Have had 8 acquaintances with this virus, two of which have died after fighting this for many days. One fought it for 88 days, mostly in ICU on a ventilator.” Comments regarding social distancing included: “I will wear a mask if requested or if there are elderly around.” “Still practicing social distancing.” “Mandate masks in public.” Comments regarding the state opening back up included: “Do not open back up!!!!” “We are reopening too fast and too soon.” Comments about leadership included: “I don’t agree with the 600$ weekly payment to people on unemployment, that’s more than I make now.” “I feel like our government has failed us both nationally and statewide. It’s very upsetting.” “Need officials to mandate wearing masks in public. That alone would enable economic growth.” “Oklahoma unemployment is still giving me the runaround & is very frustrating.” “I think Trump had the right idea at the beginning of this to just keep going without shutting down. Also, the stimulus money was a horrible idea. Just makes more people wanting the government to bail them out. What happened to us being able to take care of ourselves without handouts? That stimulus money did not help our economy.” General comments included: “This is all BS.” “Not sure how much of the media I believe either.” Respondents were anonymous.