Experts all agree: rapid Covid-19 test results keep businesses open and help protect vulnerable lives. On Tuesday, Governor Doug Ducey issued a press release announcing Arizona will be receiving 2.19 million Abbott rapid point-of-care tests from the federal government. The state will prioritize the tests for K-12 schools and congregate care facilities for vulnerable individuals. The tests can produce results in 15 minutes.
Abbott Laboratories Point of care (POC) testing allows doctors to receive results in real-time rather than hours or days. Testing at the point of care “streamlines the diagnostic process and helps ensure patients receive the most effective and efficient care when and where it is needed.” According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 test is “a lateral flow test that detects the presence of protein antigens from SARS-CoV-2 in individuals suspected of COVID-19 by their healthcare provider within the first seven days of symptom onset.”
President Donald Trump announced he would be distributing over 150 million rapid tests to facilities around the country. The tests will help vulnerable populations in nursing homes, hospice facilities, schools, and tribal nations. So far, more than 1.4 million diagnostic tests have been completed in the state of Arizona.
“Arizona is grateful to President Trump for his continued partnership during this pandemic and for once again prioritizing our state,” stated Governor Ducey. “These new FDA-approved rapid tests will allow us to quickly identify cases and prevent outbreaks among our most vulnerable citizens,” he continued. “Combined with the PPE, ventilators, and health care workers the White House has provided to Arizona, these tests will go a long way in making sure we are able to continue to safely keep Arizona’s economy open.”
Governor Ducey also announced $14 million additional dollars recently to support the efforts of Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University to contain the spread of COVID-19 and protect Arizona communities. Some of the funds will be directed to first responders and health care workers so that they can get COVID-19 test results within minutes.
