COLUMBUS, Ohio — Now that construction is back on track, with retail following on May 12,  Ohioans can expect to see more testing across the state — giving health officials the latitude to test as many as 22,000 people each day.

"It allows us to quickly identify individuals infected with COVID-19, promptly isolate them and determine who they've been in close contact with," said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

So far, 1.3 percent of Ohioans have been tested. 

While testing is only part of the equation, the state will continue testing the sickest people, including those with underlying health conditions — even in places where the virus may spread rapidly or where more than six people live. 

"Those areas include nursing homes and other congregate living settings, such as developmental centers, treatment facilities, homeless and domestic violence shelters, youth detention centers," DeWine said. 

DeWine says the increased testing will not replace infection control and prevention but it will help as social distancing continues.

As testing ramps up, the Ohio Department of Health will also focus on calculating the 21-day average hospitalization trends that can be connected to deaths. 

In the meantime, those needing to undergo high risk procedures at hospitals will be tested. 

"If you're getting a high risk procedure like a bronchoscopy, we definitely want to test you so those decisions will be guided and each hospital will give patients that guidance," said Health Director Dr. Amy Acton.

As people get back to work, DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted say they'll still rely heavily on business owners to help the state fully reopen one industry at a time.

Dr. Amy Acton says connecting the dots of who infected people have been in contact with will be key as they increase testing.