Third round of Arizona Testing Blitz for virus to take place Saturday
May 15, 2020, 4:15 AM | Updated: 4:17 pm
(Getty Images/Omar Marques)
(Getty Images/Omar Marques)
PHOENIX — Arizona’s plan to test tens of thousands of residents for the coronavirus on the weekends will have its third round on Saturday.
The “Arizona Testing Blitz,” announced April 27, had the goal of testing 10,000-20,000 Arizonans for COVID-19 during each of the following three Saturdays.
The state health department on Friday extended the blitz an additional two Saturdays in an effort to get more residents tested.
There are currently 78 different locations throughout the state that will offer COVID-19 tests on Saturday for those who believe they have been exposed to or infected with the virus, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Coronavirus antibody testing is not part of the program.
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Online or phone pre-registration is required at nearly all testing sites.
Maricopa County, the area hardest-hit by the coronavirus in the state, is set to have at least 41 testing locations on Saturday.
State Farm Stadium in Glendale is one such location and one of the few not requiring pre-registration for testing.
When Arizona Testing Blitz was announced, the number of coronavirus tests that had been administered stood at 66,543 — a figure that has since increased to 175,455.
As part of the #AZTestingBlitz, testing will be available to anyone who thinks they have been exposed to and could be infected with #COVID19. Testing criteria is set by each testing site. https://t.co/hyYUX71qrd pic.twitter.com/bG1433UCKM
— AZ Dept of Health (@AZDHS) May 14, 2020
AZDHS has been updating its webpage with additional testing locations and the hours of operation for each site.
According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, Arizona currently ranks 49th among states in coronavirus testing per capita.
