Oklahoma passes 20,000 COVID deaths – second in the nation for deaths per capita
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OKLAHOMA (KFOR) – Oklahoma has now passed 20,000 deaths related to COVID-19. That’s about the population of Mustang, Oklahoma.
Oklahoma is the second state in the nation with the most COVID deaths per capita since January 1 of 2020.
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The state is now seeing around three to four deaths daily and one Oklahoma farmer is still mourning the loss of loved ones after the virus killed half of his siblings in just 22 days.
“There’s Vicki, Sandy, Denise, Jackie, Paul, Stan, Dave, Nick and Ron,” said Larry Annuschat, who lost five siblings to COVID in 2020.
It started as an Oklahoma family of 12 with two parents and 10 children. Now, there are three surviving siblings: Sandy (Annuschat) Raupe, Jackie (Annuschat) Walta and Larry Annuschat.
“After you have big family like that, we always got together at Thanksgiving, Christmas. And that’s all changed completely. I mean, it was just like night and day. It just ‘boom.’ It was just upside down for us,” said Annuschat.
KFOR brought you Larry Annuschat’s story back in 2020 and 2021 when he lost five siblings to COVID in just under a month. Around the same time, he even caught the virus himself but survived.
“I didn’t die, so I don’t know… I think it was this their time? You know, I think God uses us in different ways,” said Annuschat.
Some of his siblings had underlying health problems. That’s something former president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, Dr. George Monks says is the driving factor.
“It’s mostly people that are vulnerable, people that are immunosuppressed and mostly are Oklahoma seniors,” said Dr. George Monks, former president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association. “And so that’s one thing that’s made it have a significant impact on Oklahoma.”
Dr. Monks says the new COVID variant is very contagious. However, he hopes to see the deaths in Oklahoma decrease sometime over the next month.
“That’s kind of a lagging indicator. We start to see cases decrease first and then hospitalizations and then deaths… I think we’ve kind of reached the plateau on COVID,” said Dr. Monk.
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Now, Annuschat is using his story to encourage others to keep faith even in the darkest hours.
“Faith is what’s kept me moving and kept me going. And yeah, you’re going to have your trials and tribulations. And I’ve had my fair share. And I also feel like I’m supposed to be telling people about to not quitting, to just keep going… If you’re still alive, your eyes open every day. You can stand up, go do something every day,” said Annuschat.
About one out of every 30 Americans are infected with COVID right now.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
