Oklahoma to expand satellite testing locations across the state

Oklahoma is planning to open two more satellite testing locations in the state next week.

This comes as the state received 10,000 COVID-19 testing kits Thursday.

"Expanding our testing capabilities are vitally important and foundational to success in managing this crisis," said Dr. Kayse Shrum, the Oklahoma secretary of science and innovation.

One of the satellite locations is in Oklahoma County at the State Fairgrounds. Two others were in Kay and Pittsburg counties and will move into the northwest and Southwest parts of the state next.

State officials have yet to disclose where exactly those locations will be set up and said it's still limited on who can get tested.

Oklahoma Health Secretary Jerome Loughridge said the satellite locations going up in the coming days are not aimed at increasing testing, but for two purposes: to give a sense of what is happening in populations outside Tulsa and Oklahoma County and to get a sense of transmission rates.

"They will continue to allow us to practice and hone our ability and then to address outbreaks that might occur in our rural locations," Loughridge said.

The sites will be for patients with a doctor's referral only and for health care providers, first responders and anyone over the age of 65 or immunocompromised.

FOX 25 asked why the state is so behind compared to other states when it comes to the ability to test Oklahomans and why we don't have more satellite locations opened for all Oklahomans to go to if they believe they have the virus.

"We’ve seen outbreak occur in other states quicker, and you have to recognize that through FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) is where the state is getting their supply of reagents, and so as other states are hit more quickly, the supply chain tightens down, and while we might be promised reagents, we might not be first in line to get that. It could have been delayed, so to be honest, we recognize that we were having those challenges," Shrum said. "Our turnaround time in getting reagents is very, very quick. I’m very proud of our team and stand behind the work that they did in getting the testing capabilities up and running."

Meanwhile, the state Department of Health told FOX 25 in a statement Thursday the state has "not been late at all."

FOX 25 reached out to the governor Friday asking again why Oklahoma is behind.

According to The New York Times, data released Friday showed Oklahoma is second to last in the nation when it comes to testing capabilities.

The governor has yet to answer our question.

Private testing is available, but patients have to pay.

Stay with FOX 25 for the latest.