Oklahoma districts can join in-school COVID-19 testing program, Health Department announces

Oklahoma school districts will be able to opt into a program to provide free, in-school COVID-19 testing, the state Health Department announced Thursday.

The program launched this week in partnership with the state Department of Education and is funded through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deputy health commissioner Keith Reed said at a news conference. 

More:Nearly 1,000 deaths added to Oklahoma's COVID-19 toll since July

It is an optional program: School districts can choose to opt in to the program, and parents can opt-in their children for COVID-19 testing at districts that have opted in the program, Reed said.

Since the school year started, the state’s share of new COVID-19 cases has shifted. School-age kids made up about 14% of COVID-19 cases during the first week of August, before many schools had started. 

Last week, school-age kids made up 22% of cases, a decrease from the week before, when the same age groups accounted for more than a quarter of the state’s cases. 

Working to curb rising COVID-19 cases in schools

Reed said the department wished it could have implemented the program sooner. 

“While it didn't happen before school started, we are pleased to get it out now so that we can hopefully curb the cases of COVID in the schools,” he said.

More:Children make up nearly 25% of new COVID-19 cases in Oklahoma, data shows

As part of the grant, school districts may also apply to be reimbursed for other supplies to prevent the spread of COVID-19, like air filtration systems, face shield, applicable staffing needs and hygiene supplies, Reed said. 

As of last week, 40 districts had signed up to participate in the testing program, which will provide districts with testing kits. 

The Health Department is asking schools to do some random testing of students, and tests will also be available when someone is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or needs a test because they were in contact with someone else who tested positive, Reed said. 

More:COVID-19 tests are in high demand. Here’s where to find one across Oklahoma City

The Health Department also announced other efforts to improve testing access. It's distributing about 100,000 rapid COVID-19 tests to health departments across the state and working again with Norman-based IMMY Labs to offer more testing sites. 

IMMY Labs' CEO told the Norman Transcript that drive-through testing will be available in the Oklahoma City area.