The Pima County Health Department announced Friday expanded free COVID-19 testing at several locations, as test positivity rates approach 12% and new cases surge locally, in the state, and nationwide.
“What we’re seeing right now is scary,” Dr. Theresa Cullen, Director of the Pima County Health Department, said. “Cases are well above our summer surge, when Arizona was a world-wide COVID-19 hotspot. Testing, in addition to wearing masks, limiting socializing, and hand washing, is one of our main tools to help curb this pandemic.”
Extra testing hours will allow 270 additional appointments per day each at the Kino Event Center and Morris K. Udall Center, plus expanded hours at the El Pueblo Center testing location.
For the Kino Testing Center, 2805 E. Ajo Way, appointments are now available Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Previous hours were 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
At the Udall Testing Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Rd., appointments are now available Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Previous hours were 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Appointments are now available at El Pueblo Testing Site, 101 W. Irvington Rd. (Building 9), on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Previous hours were Wednesdays and Saturdays, 7-10 a.m., Mondays, 5-8 p.m
The new schedule is in effect immediately and instructions for scheduling an appointment are available on the
Pima County COVID-19 testing page.
“More people are getting tested now, which is great, and we strongly encourage anybody who is sick to get tested, or if you have been in contact with someone who was sick, get tested 4-7 days after last contact with the sick person,” Cullen said.
With the increase in cases, the Pima County Health Department strongly encourages everybody to take important steps to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe: always wear a mask in public around others, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently, stay home when you are sick, practice physical distancing, and limit exposure to others who do not live in your household.
For the latest information about COVID-19, the
Pima County website.