Oklahoma is no longer the best state at not testing for Coronavirus…

10:33 AM EDT on April 7, 2020

Over the past couple of days, there have been a lot of graphics floating around on social media casually pointing out that Oklahoma is the best state in the country at not testing its residents for Coronavirus. For example:

Oklahoma is DEAD LAST (by a long shot) in coronavirus testing. If you need a test call 405-632-6688. For uninsured Oklahomans, the cost for the online screening is $35. pic.twitter.com/7mFp6DMJG7
— Drew Reese (@drewjreese) April 5, 2020

According to the State of OK's own data, as aggregated by https://t.co/cJ9CY9AbPp, the State of Oklahoma is dead last in testing density, with a 3.5x factor to the next closest. What is our leadership doing to ensure Oklahomans are being tested and are safe from COVID-19? pic.twitter.com/uW8R8ILJkv
— Brandon L (@GeezWhatASneeze) April 6, 2020

It’s unconscionable that Oklahoma ranks last in the country in testing. Without adequate testing it’s impossible to make informed decisions on fighting #COVID19. No more excuses, more tests. https://t.co/xQZJlj1WxZ
— Jason Dunnington (@jdunnington) April 5, 2020

Oklahoma’s testing rate is abysmal. pic.twitter.com/vnF8Awk9zp
— Ziva Branstetter (@ZivaBranstetter) April 5, 2020

Yep, just like we do with teen pregnancy, incarceration and home foundation problems, Oklahoma leads the way like David Stanley, when it comes to not testing for Coronavirus!

Or do we?

According to The Frontier and other media reports, the graphics didn't account for the over 6,000 negative results that came from private testing labs. For some reason – probably because Oklahoma is a weird state that's always enjoyed embarrassing itself on the national level – the health department wasn't including those results when submitting testing totals to the media. Imagine that!!!

Well, now they are, and we're skyrocketing up the testing list:

INBOX: Private labs have processed more than 11,000 negative COVID tests for Oklahoma since early February, bringing the total number of tests run in the state to 13,148.

It’s a tenfold increase in the number of known tests done, the state says.@koconews
— Dillon Richards (@dillonjrichards) April 6, 2020

This means Oklahoma is likely not last in total COVID-19 tests run, as national media and some social media posts indicated over the past week - based on a total that didn’t include private labs
— Dillon Richards (@dillonjrichards) April 6, 2020

According to this new data, Oklahoma would rank 44th in this list of 56 states and territories + DC in terms of total tests done per capitahttps://t.co/IdtmZ1xhT7
— Dillon Richards (@dillonjrichards) April 7, 2020

Yeah, this KOCO Dylan needs to get his act together. We do not include "territories + DC" when it comes to lists like this, because 1) Murica and 2) It can affect our OK Top 10 ranking. Also, do the updated numbers take into account all the tests we wasted on the Utah Jazz?

Anyway, I guess it's comforting to know that Oklahoma is no longer the worst state in the country at testing for Coronavirus, and instead in the more familiar 44 - 47 range. You're doing fine, Oklahoma.

Patrick @okcpatrick

Patrick is the founder, editor and publisher of The Lost Ogle.