Oklahoma Doctors Push For More COVID-19 Testing

As cases have continued to rise in the state, doctors think we don't know the true scope of COVID-19 cases in the state. 

The state's seven day rolling average of cases topped 1,000. Health leaders have put out the call for people with symptoms to go get tested.

The Oklahoma City-County Health Department's epidemiologist, Eddie Withers, said they have seen a slight increase in testing. He believes that’s due to the Delta variant. But he said there still needs to be more.

"At the end of the day how do you know whether or not you are infected or transmitting or exposing other individuals if you don't test," said Withers.

Withers noted that testing is a key tool in the pandemic to see where hot spots are and where the spread of COVID-19 has most occurred.

"That is probably a true statement in saying the numbers are higher than what we see because there's individuals that just don't test," said Withers.

And finding a test has become easier over time. 

But many of the large, drive-thru testing sites like the ones at OU Health and IMMY Labs have shut down.

To get a test, Oklahomans can go to a local urgent care. In the Oklahoma City metro area, residents can visit TestOKC.com to find where you can get tested by the Oklahoma City-County Health Department.

"Through the county health department there is no cost associated," said Withers. "Other places there might be some fees included but if they come to us, we don't require a payment."