LOCAL
Joe Tomlinson, Tulsa Flyer
Tulsa Health Department’s North Regional Health & Wellness Center is one of four department facilities to offer COVID-19 vaccines in 2025. Photo: Libby Hobbs/Tulsa Flyer
If you tested positive for COVID-19 recently, you’re not alone. Tulsa’s cases nearly doubled from August to September, according to data from the Oklahoma State Department of Health — just in time for cold and flu season, too.
Here are the latest protocols for COVID-19 prevention, social distancing and returning to work after testing positive.
Madison Thomas, epidemiology supervisor at the Tulsa Health Department, said those who suspect they have any respiratory virus — not just COVID-19 — can return to normal activities if two things are true:
- Symptoms are improving overall, and;
- No fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
However, individuals returning to normal activities should take added precautions for about five days, Thomas said. This includes hand hygiene and wearing masks.
“If you’re going to be around family members that are immunocompromised, or older adults or younger kiddos, it’s probably a good idea to either avoid being around those individuals for those five days or (…) wear a mask,” Thomas said.
Thomas said the Tulsa Health Department recommends getting vaccinated against COVID-19 but is waiting on further guidance from the CDC regarding who should get vaccinated.
“I think the best course of action for individuals to take is to speak with their health care provider or with their pharmacist,” Thomas said.
Joe Tomlinson is the general assignment reporter for the Tulsa Flyer. You can reach him at joe@tulsaflyer.org.
