Here’s how to find a place to get a COVID-19 test in Arizona
Jul 6, 2020, 2:00 PM
PHOENIX – After reports of lengthy waits to get COVID-19 testing in Phoenix, Arizonans may be wondering about how to get tested.
The easiest way to find the most convenient option is through the Arizona Department of Health Services website, which lists nearly 300 sites statewide and more than 150 in metro Phoenix.
The state’s list includes addresses, hours of operation and information about how to register for testing. Most of the locations offer both PCR testing, which detects active COVID-19 infections, and serology testing, which detects antibodies indicating a past coronavirus infection that is no longer active or contagious.
Contact your insurance company for information about coverage.
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HeroZona will be offering free testing from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday at South Mountain Community College near 24th Street and Baseline Road.
On Saturday from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., free drive-thru PCR testing will be available at Glendale Community College near 59th and Olive avenues. An appointment and mask are required, the latter of which will be provided for free.
In addition, the state’s two major pharmacy chains, Walgreens and CVS, offer drive-thru testing at multiple locations.
Widespread testing is a key component of public health officials’ response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We know that rapidly identifying cases, case follow up, and contact tracing will help slow the transmission of COVID-19 in our communities,” Arizona Health Director Dr. Cara Christ wrote in a blog post April 23.
As of Monday morning, more than 800,000 combined PCR and serology tests had been given in Arizona.
The amount of PCR testing in the state has been going up over time, but so has the percentage of positive results, indicating community spread.
The positive rate was up to 13.4% Monday after being below 7% at the start of June.
The amount of serology testing has been declining while the positive rate has been holding steady at around 3% for several weeks.
The state reported 101,441 COVID-19 cases with 1,810 deaths as of Monday morning.
