|
LATEST INFORMATION
|
|
2,900 Cases Reported Yesterday; 179,970 Cases Since January
8% Hospitalized 1% ICU Admissions View County Data
|
School FAQ’s for Parents
Get questions about kids & COVID-19 answered View FAQ’s
|
|
With COVID-19 cases increasing across the country ahead of the holidays, there is increased focus on testing. Who should get a test? When should they be tested? What happens after a negative test? Today’s issue focuses on some of these common questions and also provides options for testing sites and locations. |
|
Different Types Of Tests
If you’re looking to find out if you currently have COVID-19, there are two options:
-
PCR tests: These tests look for the virus' genetic material and are typically performed with a nasal or throat swab, or sometimes using saliva. These tests are highly accurate and are widely available.
-
Antigen tests: Antigen tests don't look for the virus' genetic material, but instead look for specific proteins on the surface of the virus. These tests are becoming easier to find, but are still less common than PCR tests. Antigen tests can produce results quickly, within minutes and are typically performed with a nasal or throat swab. The sensitivity of antigen tests is generally lower than PCR. According to CDC, antigen tests perform best when the person is tested in the early stages of infection with COVID-19 when viral load is generally highest.
Note: While they sound similar, antigen tests are not the same as antibody tests. Antibody, or serology, tests are used to detect a past infection with COVID-19 and require a blood sample to detect the presence of antibodies. Antibody tests are not designed to detect an active infection of the virus and should not be used for diagnostic purposes.
|
Where Can I Get Tested?
You have several options if you need to get a COVID-19 test:
-
Maricopa County Events: Public Health and its partners offer free COVID-19 tests to anyone, regardless of whether they’re insured or not. You don’t have to have symptoms to get tested. See a list of times and locations at Maricopa.gov/COVID19Testing.
-
ADHS Events: Arizona Department of Health Services recently partnered with ASU to offer free, saliva-based tests in the Phoenix area. Results come back within 48 hours. Find more information here.
-
Your Doctor’s Office: Many health care providers are able to perform COVID-19 tests for patients exhibiting symptoms of the virus.
|
Can I Still Be Contagious If I Tested Negative?
Yes. One thing that makes COVID-19 different from some other infectious diseases is that people can be infectious without any symptoms. The CDC estimates 40% of infections are asymptomatic, and 50% of transmissions happen before symptoms begin.
Additionally, symptoms can take up to two weeks to appear after being exposed, so you could get tested prior to having symptoms, test negative, and yet still have the virus. The average time for COVID-19 symptoms to appear after infection is five days.
If you have been exposed, do not have COVID-19 symptoms, and test negative, you should still quarantine after the test in case symptoms should occur within the 14-day period after exposure.
|
Today’s Case Count
Today we added 2,900 cases to the Maricopa County COVID-19 dashboard. Our 7-day rolling average as of November 13 was 1,395 cases per day, so this represents a significant jump from what we have been seeing. Public Health will closely watch the data to see if today’s count is a result from delayed weekend data reporting or a sustained escalation in cases.
|
|
|
Here’s What We Can Do Together
No one asked for this pandemic, and it’s understandable to feel as if you have no control over what’s happening. But each of us can control our actions.
-
WE CAN wear masks properly and consistently to protect ourselves and others
-
WE CAN limit public outings and social gatherings so that we have contact with fewer people outside our household
-
WE CAN be good examples to those in our social circle, by insisting on proven preventive measures such as social distancing
-
WE CAN limit the number of contacts our children have outside of the classroom so that our school communities are healthier
-
WE CAN adjust our plans and have more virtual connections in order to protect loved ones who are at greater risk
Remember: Your actions don’t just affect you. They affect your neighbors. They affect your community. They affect our health care heroes. Please act responsibly.
|
Download in English > Download in Español >
Get A Flu Shot
Peak flu season may not be here yet, but we know cases are likely to rise this winter. Getting a flu shot now is one of the best things you can do to protect yourself, your loved ones, and our precious health care resources during the pandemic.
You can find ways to get your flu shot for free at maricopa.gov/flu.
|
Serosurvey FAQ’s
This week, we published the results of the COVID-19 antibody testing project. The 11-day study, conducted in mid-September by Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) in partnership with Arizona State University (ASU) and Mayo Clinic, gave antibody blood tests to 260 volunteers in 169 households across the county to test for antibodies for the virus that causes COVID-19. Results from the “serosurvey” show that an estimated 10.7% of residents have detectable antibodies for COVID-19. Here are a few questions we have received about the process:
-
What is an antibody blood test?
- Antibody (also known as serology) tests are laboratory tests that look for the presence of antibodies, which are proteins made by the body in response to an infection. An antibody test is able to detect if you’ve had COVID-19 in the past, even if you didn’t have symptoms or know you were sick. The COVID-19 antibody test used by MCDPH is authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
-
Does everyone who is infected by COVID-19 make antibodies?
- Most people who are infected by the virus make antibodies within days to weeks of infection. However, some individuals, such as those with depressed immune systems, may not make antibodies after they are infected.
-
If I have antibodies, does that mean I have immunity to COVID-19?
- Antibodies likely provide some immunity to the COVID-19 virus; however, there's currently not enough information to know how long the immunity will last or whether past infection with the virus protects you from getting another infection. We also don't know if you could be infected by a different strain of COVID-19 In the future.
Learn what the serosurvey results mean >
|
|
|
|
|