By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ns who believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 can now get tested.
But be prepared to stay home, at least while you’re waiting for the results — if not longer.
The new order from state Health Director Dr. Cara Christ is a major shift from her policy to reserve the tests only for those who either had a doctor’s order or had actual and specific symptoms.
The health director said at the time that was designed to preserve the tests for those most in need.
But Christ said there now appears to be evidence that at least some outlets, including private health labs and the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, have sufficient supplies.
But it still doesn’t rise to the level of anyone who wants a test can get a test.
And ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is far from universal testing, with the 58,750 tests conducted so far totaling less than 1% of the population.
There are strings attached for those who are eligible based on suspected exposure.
First, those seeking tests under her new order will first have to sign a “voluntary isolation agreement†to not go anywhere until the results come back.
If the results are negative, no problem.
But if there is a positive result, it gets more complicated. A spokeswoman for the health department said that means no travel anywhere until there has been no fever for at least 72 hours — meaning without any medicine that reduces fever — and that other symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath have improved.
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And, even if the symptoms are gone, the person who got the positive test result still cannot go out until at least seven days have passed since the specimen was collected.
Christ acknowledged the importance of knowing who has the virus and can spread it.
“We know that rapidly identifying cases, case follow up, and contact tracing will help slow the transmission of COVID-19 in our communities,†she said. “Success in these areas requires an increase in our testing capacity.â€
Of those who have been able to get tested, 9% of the results came back positive.
Christ said her department has distributed 15 machines throughout the state that can provide actual results within 15 minutes.
The latest announcement comes as the number of confirmed cases of the virus has hit 5,769 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, with 249 known deaths.
Christ also said work is underway for another kind of test, this one to determine if someone has had the virus and has since recovered.
In essence these serology tests determine if someone has developed antibodies.
Less clear, Christ said, is whether that means they are immune from future infections, and for how long.
She said that, if nothing else, these tests can become a screening tool for first responders and health-care personnel to determine if they might be immune.
There also are experiments at various hospitals infusing the plasma of those with positive antibody tests into those who are infected.
Photos for April 11: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ gets by during Coronavirus Pandemic
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Susan Hillman chats with her mother Betty Hillman via telephone, April 9, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. Eighty-five year old Betty Hillman is in long term skilled care and Susan is unable to visit due to COVID-19 restrictions on nursing home facilities.
Kelly Presnell / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Susan Hillman chats with her mother Betty Hillman near a photo of Betty and her husband, Susan's dad, Bill, circa 2105, April 9, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. Eighty-five year old Betty Hillman is in long term skilled care and Susan is unable to visit due to COVID-19 restrictions on nursing home facilities.
Kelly Presnell / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Ben Forbes, left, owner of Forbes Meat Company, helps Jeronimo "Mo" Madril, right owner and executive chef of Geronimo's Revenge, wrap up tortilla's for to-go carnitas for Forbes Meat Company and Geronimo's Revenge's "Carnitas for the community" at Thunder Canyon Brewery, 220 E. Broadway Blvd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 6, 2020. Forbes Meat Company and Geronimo's Revenge partnered to help the restaurant community by offering free carnitas to those affected by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). They will be making to go carnitas every Monday in April starting at 2pm until all the to go packs, roughly 60, are all gone. Forbes wanted to find a way to help out the restaurant community. "They are struggling and my business is exploding," said Forbes.
Rebecca Sasnett / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
David Clark, left, out of work bartender, and Jeronimo "Mo" Madril, owner and executive chef of Geronimo's Revenge, practice social distancing while waiting to give out carnitas for Forbes Meat Company and Geronimo's Revenge's "Carnitas for the community" at Thunder Canyon Brewery, 220 E. Broadway Blvd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 6, 2020. Forbes Meat Company and Geronimo's Revenge partnered to help the restaurant community by offering free carnitas to those affected by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). They will be making to go carnitas every Monday in April starting at 2pm until all the to go packs, roughly 60, are all gone.
Rebecca Sasnett / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Steve Tracy, Thunder Canyon Brewery co-owner and brewer, fills up 16oz bottles of locally made hand sanitizer at Thunder Canyon Brewery, 220 E. Broadway Blvd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 6, 2020. Thunder Canyon Brewery, along with a few other local distilleries, are making United States Food and Drug Administration approved hand sanitizer for hospitals, first responders and the public in response to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). "Whatever I have, I am turning into hand sanitizer," said Tracy. "We are going to keep making it as much as we can."
Rebecca Sasnett / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Steve Tracy, Thunder Canyon Brewery co-owner and brewer, fills up 16oz bottles of locally made hand sanitizer at Thunder Canyon Brewery, 220 E. Broadway Blvd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 6, 2020. Thunder Canyon Brewery, along with a few other local distilleries, are making United States Food and Drug Administration approved hand sanitizer for hospitals, first responders and the public in response to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). "Whatever I have, I am turning into hand sanitizer," said Tracy. "We are going to keep making it as much as we can."
Rebecca Sasnett / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
David Sbarra, a psychology professor at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, points his webcam at his children Margot, 9, and Mateo, 12, as he begins his introduction of his office hours for a class he now conducts over Zoom in his living room while teaching from home, on April 7, 2020.
Josh Galemore / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Ben Elias, manager at Westbound, center, helps Dustin Schaber with his pickup order on April 8, 2020. Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) only two customers are allowed in the shop, located at the MSA Annex, at the same time and all orders are to-go.
Mamta Popat / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Laura Tanzer, a local fashion designer, posted on Facebook that she will make masks for $5.00 each on April 5. Tanzer thought she would receive a couple of dozen orders, but, within 24 hours she heard from over 200 people. Tanzer is now working out of her shop in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ making masks that also has a filter sowed into them. Tanzer is wearing one of her masks as she sows on April 8, 2020.
Mamta Popat / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Oro Valley Hospital chief administration officer Erinn Oller talks with Fang, a local organizer with the Chinese-American COVID-19 Relief AZ group, which donated 6,000 masks, on April 9, 2020. Additional mask donations are planned as soon as shipments arrive.
Josh Galemore / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Healthcare workers line up for their 2 free Sonoran hot dogs and a drink from BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs in the parking lot of St. Mary's Hospital on April 10, 2020. The owner, Benny Galaz, is giving free food to healthcare workers at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ area hospitals for the next several weeks as a way to say thank you for their hard work during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
Mamta Popat / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Benny Galaz, owner of BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs, cooks up Sonoran hot dogs in the parking lot of St. Mary's Hospital on April 10, 2020. Galaz is giving free food to healthcare workers at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ area hospitals for the next several weeks as a way to say thank you for their hard work during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
Mamta Popat / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Healthcare workers line up for their 2 free Sonoran hot dogs and a drink from BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs in the parking lot of St. Mary's Hospital on April 10, 2020. The owner, Benny Galaz, is giving free food to healthcare workers at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ area hospitals for the next several weeks as a way to say thank you for their hard work during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
Mamta Popat / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
A man uses the taped off exercise station in Reid Park as an anchor for his band workout, April 8, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Alicia Roseanna, 9, fourth grader at Esperanza Elementary School, grabs a sheet of paper while listening to her teacher, Rachel Watson, and her classmates inside her home in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. during Watson's online class on April 7, 2020. Due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) closing down schools and universities, teachers and students have been forced to schedule and participate in classes online for the remainder of the school year.
Rebecca Sasnett / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
COVID-19 survivor, Glen Reed, poses for a photo looking out from the room he's using for isolation from his family in his home, April 10, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. Reed spent nearly a month in the hospital including weeks in ICU on a ventilator.
Kelly Presnell / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
ER and EMS workers run through a drill practicing how to process an incoming patient experiencing a respiratory emergency at the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Medical Center's Emergency Room, on April 10, 2020.
Josh Galemore / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Fire Paramedic personnel prepare to run a drill at the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Medical Center's Emergency Room, on April 10, 2020.
Josh Galemore / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
The CDC recommends Americans wear a facial covering when out in public, part of an effort to reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Above, shopping for spring blooms at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Green Things Nursery.
Josh Galemore / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) signs taped onto dorms at the Babcock Dorms. The rooms located at 1717 E Speedway Boulevard may be used to house hospital workers from Banner - University Medical Center if they need to be quarantined due to COVID-19.
Josh Galemore / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Alex Swain, a member of Beloved in the Desert - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s chapter of the Episcopal Service Corps, packs the trunk of his housemate's SUV in the parking lot of Fry's on 2480 N Swan Road after grocery shopping for an elderly man, on April 3, 2020. Swain and his housemates have volunteered to shop for elderly and at risk populations as people quarantine and stay at home during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Josh Galemore / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Julisa Montano, a bus driver with Sunnyside Unified School District, gathers up the last few meals to hand out to students outside of Gallego Primary School, on April 7, 2020. The school district is distributing meals and has wifi available for students to use for school.
Josh Galemore / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
A table is taped off at Fred Enke Golf Course, 8251 E. Irvington Rd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 5, 2020 due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). With a rise in the amount of people participating in golf, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ City Golf is taking extra measures to keep people safe such as sanitizing golf carts after each use and social distancing.
Rebecca Sasnett / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Rich DelVecchio, a Fred Enke Golf Course employee, sanitizes a golf cart. Course revenues at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s city-owned golf properties are up nearly 28% from the same period last year.
Rebecca Sasnett / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Golfers practice social distancing while on the driving range at Fred Enke Golf Course, 8251 E. Irvington Rd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 5, 2020. With a rise in the amount of people participating in golf, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ City Golf is taking extra measures to keep people safe such as sanitizing golf carts after each use and social distancing.
Rebecca Sasnett / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
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