Arizona to provide $14 million to ASU, UA, NAU for more COVID-19 testing
Sep 24, 2020, 3:48 PM | Updated: 3:51 pm
PHOENIX — Arizona will provide $14 million to the state’s three universities to increase coronavirus testing capabilities and other COVID-19 response efforts, Gov. Doug Ducey announced Thursday.
The state will dole out $8 million to Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern University for additional testing measures. That includes expanding wastewater testing, which UA is already utilizing.
An additional $6 million will go toward development of ASU’s groundbreaking point-of-need testing, a prototype of which ASU President Michael Crow said is expected to be ready in about six months.
“These investments are critical for helping our communities stay safe and healthy,” Ducey said during a press conference.
ASU’s development of the point-of-need testing is expected to allow first responders, health care workers and those in congregate care settings to get COVID-19 test results within minutes.
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About $5.2 million for the testing development will come from funding from the coronavirus relief bill. The additional $860,000 will be from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
So far, the state has provided more than $31 in funding to state universities for COVID-19 relief.
“We are very excited that we have been asked and now are developing this point-of-need test,” Crow said.
