Oklahoma is stepping up medical testing in the battle against the Chinese coronavirus while businesses are re-opening as the pandemic seems to diminishing.

Gov. Kevin Stitt announced a partnership between the Oklahoma State Health Department (OSDH) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma to ensure underserved areas have access to COVID-19 testing. 

“As we test more people, we will continue to find new cases, but our infection rate is going down,” said Stitt. “Of all the people we have tested, just 5.67% are coming back positive. This means for every 1,000 tests we do, 943 come back negative and 57 come back positive. With more testing, and by expanding our contact tracing, we will be able to slow the spread of this virus and keep Oklahomans safe and healthy as we begin a measured re-opening of our State.” 

OSDH wants to increase testing to collect and process 90,000 specimens by the end of May and add from 150 to 650 trained tracers in the coming weeks. This expansion will take place with the National Guard and Oklahoma’s medical institutions and will allow the agency to maintain its 48-hour turnaround on investigating cases and contacting individuals and facilities.

Over the past eight weeks, OSDH helped open 80 drive-through testing locations and doubled week after week the state’s testing capacity. Efforts are underway to test all nursing home residents. Testing locations can be found at: coronavirus.health.ok.gov/drive-thru-testing.

Blue Cross Blue Shield has nine Caring Vans that travel the state providing immunizations and screenings. These mobile units will provide COVID-19 testing to underserved families.

 Here are aspects of Phase 1 of Stitt’s re-opening plan:

Churches can re-open for in-person worship services as of May 1. The state recommends strict disinfecting protocols and social distancing plus the use of a touchless infrared thermometer. If someone has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, he or she should be sent home until they don’t have a fever.

The state doesn’t want churchgoers to shake hands but to have non-contact greetings. Churches are asked to hold multiple services and to not serve food or coffee. They want them to leave every other pew or row open and encourage members of the same household to sit together.

Barbershops, hair salons and nail salons were cleared to open on April 24 but only by appointment.

Entertainment, movie theaters, bowling alleys, outdoor concerts, fairs and sporting venues including rodeos and racetracks could re-open on May 1.

Full service and quick service restaurants offering in-restaurant dining can re-open but there could be different guidelines from the state and a city.

Bars, taverns, nightclubs and other drinking establishments primarily serving alcoholic beverages can re-open May 15. The definition of “bars” are stand-alone establishments that primarily serve alcohol with 65% or more total sales deriving from alcohol.

Bars should designate an area where patrons can safely pick their drinks while maintaining social distancing. There should be no parties exceeding 10 people, unless seated in a private area.

On May 15, Tulsa bars may resume operations with reduced occupancy based on 36 square feet per person (in the assembly/bar area). Bars are required to calculate and self-post this capacity next to their current capacity sign on white 8.5×11-inch paper.

Fitness and recreational sports centers: gyms, aerobic dance or exercise centers, gymnastics training, swimming schools, tennis club facilities, ice/roller skating rinks and similar facilities could open May 1. There are a host of suggestions about distancing, sanitation and participation.

Pet care businesses, pet groomers, mobile pet grooming, and training schools could re-open for appointments only beginning April 24.

Tattoo parlors and body piercing shops may re-open beginning May 1.

Spas and Tanning Salons could reopen for appointments only beginning April 24.

Outdoor recreational facilities: nature parks, zoos and botanical gardens, play grounds, riding stables, miniature golf, archery and shooting ranges, marinas could re-open beginning April 24. Zoos should consider delaying opening or restricting access to petting zoos until later.

Philbrook Museum will begin a phased re-opening on June 3.

Administrative offices may reopen beginning May 1.

The state’s target date for Phase 2 is May 15. The Phase 3 goal is June 1.