Arizona to Expand COVID-19 Testing, Says Ducey

Governor Doug Ducey and the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) announced continued efforts to increase access to COVID-19 testing in partnership with health care providers statewide.

• On Tuesday, an additional Roche testing machine was secured for Sonora Quest Laboratories to expand testing in the state.
• ADHS will provide additional funding to laboratories, as needed, for testing services.
• Over the weekend, ADHS provided 10,000 specimen collection kits to Sonora Quest Laboratories to assist with increased demand.

These efforts build on previous actions to expand testing in Arizona, including:

• Providing $1 million each to Sonora Quest Laboratories and TGen to support COVID-19 testing.
• Distributing 51,462 specimen collection kits to health care partners, laboratories and local health departments.
• Assisting with procuring equipment, reagents, test kits, and testing supplies for Arizona testing laboratories.

Since April, PCR diagnostic testing has increased nearly 250% from 53,842 tests in April to 188,008 so far in June. More than 445,000 PCR tests have been done in Arizona since the start of the pandemic.

“We know there is a high demand for testing in Arizona, and our public health team is working tirelessly with health care partners and private testing labs to develop new strategies to alleviate the wait times for testing and results,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “We’re grateful for the support and advocacy of our health care community and our federal partners in delivering for Arizonans.”

“Testing is an important public health tool to help us track COVID-19 and to implement mitigation strategies to slow the spread of the disease in Arizona, so we have been working with our health care partners to increase access to testing statewide,” said Dr. Cara Christ, ADHS director. “We know COVID-19 is widespread in every county in Arizona, and I urge everyone to take precautions to protect themselves and their families from the disease.”

Arizonans can take the following precautions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19:

• Stay home when you are sick
• Wear a mask every time you are in public, even if you do not feel sick.
• Physically distance by staying at least six feet away from others who are not in your household when you are in public.
• Avoid gatherings of more than 10 people.
• Arizonans at higher risk for severe illness should continue to stay at home and avoid crowded public spaces. People at higher risk for severe illness include adults 65 or older and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) and immediately throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Health care providers are offering testing at more than 180 testing locations statewide. People are encouraged to follow the instructions on the testing website as many of the health care providers require individuals to preregister for testing and may have other requirements to get tested. Testing locations can be found online at azhealth.gov/testing.