Oklahoma health officials defend switch to weekly virus data

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma’s epidemiologist is defending the state Health Department’s change from daily to weekly reporting of coronavirus information.

State epidemiologist Jared Taylor says daily reports did not provide a true picture of the virus and the weekly reports, issued on Wednesdays starting March 17th, levels out one day changes in virus information.

Public health officials have criticized the change. Tulsa Health Department Director Bruce Dart says his agency used the daily data in making decisions on how to respond to the virus. OU Health Covid Officer Dr. Dale Bratzler says local virus outbreaks and hotspots will not be spotted as quickly.