March 18, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 10

Page Text

Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 By Don Munsch, Editor On Friday morning, The News is looking at how various entities in our com- with classes called munity — from the hospital to schools to businesses — are off for the day, Elk coping with coronavirus pandemic. This story is the first in City Public Schools a series. custodian James For up-to-date information on COVID-19, please access Bruce cleans a table the websites of the World Health Organization and the Cen- inside prekindergar- ters for Disease Control at https://www.who.intemergen- ten teacher Ashlee cies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 and https://www.cdc. Burgess’ class at gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html, respectively. Elk City Elemen- Hospital tary School. Bruce As coronavirus infections continue to grow in the U.S., explained surfaces Great Plains Regional Medical Center CEO Corey Lively were cleaned with said this situation will not be one in which a person will bleach and water and show up at any healthcare provider and ask to be tested for then a disinfectant to the virus. give a deeper, more “They have to meet the criteria set forth by the CDC and thorough clean. Staff World Health Organization,” he said in an interview last photo by Don Munsch. week. He said if somebody shows up at GPRMC, the hospital and obviously, the majority of them do screen no, so they do will want to determine whether that person meets certain not meet those criteria collectively,” he said. “But we have What are the symptoms of criteria. Does the person exhibit signs and symptoms of any had some that have screened yes, but it does not mean that type offlu? Has that person either traveled outside the United they have the coronavirus nor does it mean that they’ve had COVID-19? From the World States or had significant contact with two groups of people, a high-risk exposure. It just means that they meet the initial Health Organization website: who include a group that has traveled extensively outside the screening criteria. If they meet the screening criteria, then U.S. or had contact with someone who has tested positive or at that time, we would determine if they needed to receive been in a high contact, high risk region of the coronavirus? further testing for this particularly strain of the flu.” The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, “We are doing those screening processes on all individuals Generally, the hospital does receive a number of people tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches who come in to receive care or receive any type of treatment, who want treatment with the seasonal flu, Lively said. and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throator di- “At any given time during what we consider the flu sea- arrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradu- son, from really November to March or April, we could see ally. Some people become infected but don’t develop any upwards of 15 to 20 people per day that test positive for the symptoms and don’t feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) seasonal flu,” he said. recover from the disease without needing special treat- The hospital is taking precautions as if there would be an ment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 influx of potential coronavirus cases versus the normal sea- sonal flu, Lively said. becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. “To date, there have been zero positive confirmed cases Older people, and those with underlying medical problems in Western Oklahoma,” he said about COVID-19. “And by like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are definition, no positive cases here in our facility. It is unique more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, in that once we go through the screening process that I men cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical atten- See Coronavirus page 3. tion, Health department releases some guidelines z he = a Arielle Howard, health educator with the Beckham & toms such as fever, cough and/or difficulty breathing, and Elk City Public Schools bus driver Zach Wil- Greer County Health Department, said in a news release Fri- has been in close contact with a person known to have CO- liams sprays a bus Friday morning to give the day that county health departments, including OKC-County VID-19 or has recently traveled from an area with an on- vehicle a deeper, more thorough clean. Buses and Tulsa health departments, do not offer testing for CO- going spread of COVID-19 should contact their health care are cleaned regularly, he said. Staff photo by VID-19 (coronavirus). provider or the COVID-19 hotline at 877-215-8336 for rec Don Munsch. The release stated that any individual who develops symp- See Health department page 3. Retired military officer offers first-hand account of White House on 9/11 can history. His visit was sponsored by the Western Oklahoma Bankers During a visit to Elk City last week, Darling described to Association, Elk City residents what it was like to be inside the bunker at During his presentation, he used a PowerPoint presenta- the White House during the 9/11 attacks in 2001. tion to illustrate what happened, in essentially a blow-by- Darling lives in Stafford, Va., and he now delivers speech- blow and sometimes hour-by-hour account, during 9/11 and es about his experiences during that day when the nation the response by him and people in the White House and was attacked by al-Qaeda terrorists. He spoke to a crowd George W. Bush administration. on March 10 at the Kelli O’Hara Center of Performing Arts. See Darling page 2. WTC superintendent retires By Sheryl Ponce, The Beckham County and federal laws have changed the way we Record educate. It’s not the same in 2020,” Lewis From the hall of Hollis High School to the noted. Superintendent’s office of Western Technol- He continued to admit that there also have ogy Center in Burns Flat, Hoyt Lewis has been many improvements in the way stu- seen a lot of changes in education. He has dents are educated. been able to impact many lives over his 42 “The biggest difference maker in educa- Lt. Col. Robert J. Darling, USMC (Ret.), signs a copy of his book after his talk last week in years in the business weaving through the tion has been the use of internet and com- additional paperwork to meet the needs of puters. This has changed the way we teach Elk City. Staff photo by Don Munsch. teachers and students. and deliver educational classes. Now, social By Don Munsch, Editor “The changes I have seen in the last 42 media gives us the ability to communicate Lt. Col. Robert J. Darling [USMC, Ret.] was on hand to years include the differences in policies and and educate by delivering online classes see history happening on one of the darkest days in Ameri- Hoyt Lewis procedures. Since the 1970's the local, state See Superintendent page 2. mm Ag HH Weather Vol. 118, No. 20 Mail delivery View online et remavere s tomorrow 75 cents, 10 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com