OKLAHOMA CITY –The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) announced recently that as of May 27, OSDH had processed 113,264 COVID-19 specimens since the first of the month, with a total of 183,632 tests conducted since the coronavirus was first detected in early March.
OSDH published the latest numbers in its Executive Order COVID-19 Report to Gov. Stitt and demonstrated that as COVID-19 testing increased over the month of May, the percentage of positive cases dropped to a record low of 3.8% in Oklahoma.
“Testing is paramount to controlling the spread of COVID-19,” Interim Health Commissioner Lance Frye, MD said. “Reaching this goal is only a starting point in the strategy for Oklahoma. In order to increase progress on minimizing the spread of COVID-19, we will continue to expand testing accessibility, increase contact tracing efforts and encourage Oklahomans to remain steadfast by continuing to follow State and CDC guidelines.”
The State of Oklahoma was able to achieve its testing goal due to more than 80 OSDH county health departments’ testing locations, alongside Oklahoma City-County Health Department and Tulsa Health Department, as well as the State’s testing strategy with long-term care facilities as well as state prisons. This led to an average of 4,324 tests conducted daily.
OSDH highly encourages Oklahomans to get tested for COVID-19. Due to sufficient COVID-19 testing supplies, Oklahomans no longer need to exhibit symptoms or to have been exposed to someone who tested positive.
Oklahomans can find a free testing location in their community by visiting: https://coronavirus.health. ok.gov/testing-sites.