Arizona Department Of Health Services Offering Free COVID-19 Saliva Testing This Week

By Scott Bourque
Published: Monday, August 24, 2020 - 8:37am
Updated: Monday, August 24, 2020 - 1:43pm

The Arizona Department of Health Services will offer free saliva-based COVID-19 testing to the general public this week.

If more people get tested, positivity rates can drop, public health officials get a better idea of trends, and bars and schools can start to safely reopen, says former Arizona Public Health director Will Humble.

"There’s fewer people that actually have symptoms of COVID-19, and that’s suppressing demand, there are fewer people that know somebody actively sick with COVID-19, because there’s less community spread, so that is suppressing demand. And just people hearing on the news that things are getting better makes people less worried," he said.

But nobody wants the uncomfortable swab if they don’t have to get it. That’s why the Arizona Department of Health Services is offering the tests at several locations in Tempe, Glendale and Tucson this week.

Tests will be available at the following locations and times:

  • Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Wednesday and Friday, from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m.
  • State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Tuesday, from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m.
  • Ellie Towne Community Center in Tucson, Wednesday and Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to noon.

To register for a test and to view additional dates, visit adhs.gov.

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