The Pima County Health Department announced the extension of the free COVID-19 Test to Treat program at the county’s East Clinic on Friday, July 22.

The program, which provides testing and access to treatment for COVID-19, in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will now run through Wednesday, August 24, based on public response.

“We still see a need in our community, and we’re happy to continue to make this free resource available,” Pima County Health Department Director Dr. Theresa Cullen said in a press release.

Individuals who have tested positive from an at-home test, testing site or at the clinic will be evaluated by a health care provider to determine their eligibility for antiviral medication for COVID-19 or can call the clinic at 520-724-7895 to determine eligibility.

Those who qualify will immediately receive a prescription at no cost and health insurance is not required.

The medications that will be available with a prescription are Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Merck’s Lagevrio. Both medications, when taken within five days of symptoms, are effective against COVID-19. As of July 20, Pima County had started 773 people on the oral medication, Paxlovid.

The two oral medications are also available at pharmacies within the county and can be prescribed by health care providers.

Those eligible for treatment are over 12 years old, weigh at least 88 pounds, have mild to moderate symptoms and have a high risk of severe COVID-19 illness.

Other Test to Treat sites are available locally at some pharmacies and federally-supported health care centers.

The East Clinic is located at 6920 E. Broadway Boulevard, Suite B. Hours of operation are now from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Test to Treat program will not be available on the weekends. The clinic will open at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 25.

Significant damage has been reported at Salpointe Catholic High School, after a fire broke out on Sunday evening.

The Tucson Fire Department was dispatched at 8:09 p.m. to the southeast corner of the school, and arrived on scene by 8:13 p.m. Units from Station 5 observed “heavy smoke and flames,” TFD wrote on Twitter. A second alarm was called shortly after, fighting the fire defensively and controlling the two-alarm fire by 9:12 p.m.

The fire began in the attic space in the 700 English wing, on the southeast corner of campus. Smoke and water damage were also found throughout the 300 and 400 wings, along North Cherry Avenue, on the northeast side of campus.

There were no injuries reported and the cause of the fire is still unknown.

Fire safety assessment personnel and building safety experts were on campus Monday, July 18, to investigate.

The high school campus is closed until further notice, canceling all activities school officials said in a news release, but anticipates to start the school year on time on Monday, August 8.

TFD spokesman Michael Colaianni said the investigation is still underway, as samples will be taken for analysis.

The Pima County Health Department announced its first probable case of monkeypox during a July 12 press conference. Arizona’s first reported case was reported more than a month ago in Maricopa County.

Pima County Health Department Director Dr. Theresa Cullen said the infected person has been isolated and Pima County epidemiological staff are working on contact tracing.

The case is still under review by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is believed to be considered low risk to the general population.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends watching for early monkeypox symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches and/or exhaustion. A rash or sores can also appear before, after or during symptoms. Antiviral treatment is available upon infection. Consultation with a health care provider is recommended if early monkeypox symptoms are exhibited.

“The most common route of transmission is skin to skin,” Cullen said. “You can transmit monkeypox by having direct skin to skin contact with a lesion.”

Until lesions are 100% scabbed, which takes between 14 and 21 days, people are infectious. Cullen said the chances of an individual becoming infected with monkeypox without having direct contact with an infected person are miniscule.

“Arizona has one confirmed and seven other probable cases pending confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all of them in Maricopa County,” said Arizona Department of Health Services statement.

Maricopa, Coconino and Pima counties will become “hubs” for monkeypox vaccine distribution.

Pima County will receive about 100 vaccines for monkeypox treatment by Thursday, July 14. The vaccines are a two-dose series and individuals who consider themselves at risk can enroll on a Pima County website. The website will ask for demographic information, and a county representative will call to assess if the individual is at risk and requires a vaccine.

Those who share sheets, towels or unwashed clothing with those who have been infected are at risk. There is a slight chance of contact with prolonged respiratory secretions and face-to-face contact over four to six hours, Cullen said.

Men who have sex with men have been found to be the highest risk group for monkeypox, but not all cases that have been identified as such.

Although no one in the United States has died from monkeypox, a few individuals have been hospitalized primarily due to side effects such as secondary skin infection. 

Individuals who believe they are at risk for monkeypox should reach out to their primary care providers or epidemiologists at the northside Pima County Public Health Clinic. For more information about monkeypox visit, pima.gov.

Coronavirus in Pima County

Coronavirus is in a stage of accelerated transmission.

“The vast majority of our COVID right now is the BA.5 variant,” Cullen said. “We are seeing a resurgence of respiratory symptoms.”

Reported cases fluctuate between BA.4 and BA.5 variants, the BA.5 being more predominant. 

Pima County recommends vaccinations and two booster shots. Officials also said to wear masks in public or social settings.

Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 are eligible to receive treatment at the Pima County Health Department’s Test To Treat program located at its East Clinic, 6920 E. Broadway Boulevard. The program launched over two and a half weeks ago in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and provides testing and access to antiviral medications for COVID-19 at no cost. Health insurance is not required. The oral medications, Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Merck’s Lagevrio, are available and effective against COVID-19.