KVII:
Oklahoma officials say they are shifting their response efforts to an “endemic” approach to the coronavirus.
The Oklahoman reported that interim health commissioner Keith Reed said last week the department is preparing to begin a transition “into the endemic phase of this pandemic.”
A disease reaches the endemic stage when the virus still exists in a community but becomes manageable as immunity builds.
Last month, California became the first state to formally shift to an “endemic” approach to the coronavirus. But Reed said the shift to an endemic response doesn’t change the way the health department would respond if a new variant caused another surge.
If another variant begins to surge, then I will resume following the daily stats.