CDC awards Arizona $150,000,000 to fight coronavirus
Funding to be used to expand testing and tracing
PHOENIX, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) announced Tuesday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded the state $150-million to help with its response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The funding comes from the Paycheck Protection Program and the Health Care Enhancement Acts of 2020. The state also received more than $28-million in grants in March and April.
“The response to the COVID-19 outbreak is the top priority of ADHS and these funds will help us expand several critical aspects including testing, contact tracing, and disease surveillance,” said Dr. Cara Christ, ADHS director.
“This additional funding will support the critical needs of Arizona public health departments as we work with our partners to augment activities to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19.”
In recent weeks, ADHS and its healthcare partners around the state have expanded both diagnostic and antibody testing.
Arizona Coronavirus Testing by the Numbers
- 220,612 people tested for coronavirus in Arizona
- 161,571 diagnostic tests administered
- 59,041 serology (antibody) screenings conducted
Diagnostic tests determine if a person is currently infected with the virus. Serology tests, better known as antibody screenings, indicate if a person was previously infected.
In addition to beefing up testing, ADHS says it is also working closely with state health officials to greatly expand efforts to trace infected patients' contact histories. The funding will also be used to bolster those efforts.
