Arizona Coronavirus Cases Top 150,000; Antibody Testing Expands

ARIZONA — Daily coronavirus case numbers were down in Arizona from a day before, but the state hit the 150,000 milestone on Wednesday. With 1,926 new cases reported by the Arizona Department of Health Services, 150,609 positive tests have been totaled in the state since March. 56 new deaths were also reported Wednesday, bringing the state's total to 2,974.

President Donald Trump specifically mentioned Arizona during his daily coronavirus briefing Wednesday stating numbers are beginning to go down here. Previously, local health officials have said the state has hit a "plateau."

But numbers have been up and down all week. First with a 7-day low of 1,559 cases reported Monday and a 3,500 total on Tuesday.

This comes as the state of Arizona and University of Arizona jointly announced the expansion of their free COVID-19 antibody testing program. It will now include 15 professions in the essential workers category and open up antibody testing to as many as 250,000 Arizonans.

Newly eligible for the free antibody tests are teachers, child care workers, food service workers, hospitality employees, solid waste collection workers, transportation service workers and members of the National Guard.

"Our antibody test is exceedingly accurate in determining who has developed an immune response against the COVID-19 virus," said Deepta Bhattacharya, an associate professor in the UArizona college of medicine and one of the test developers. "Combined with other tools such as diagnostic testing and contact tracing, it can help us better understand exposure, spread and levels of protection in our communities."