Embry Health closes 60 COVID-19 test sites across Arizona, citing lack of funds

Mariana Abasta, a test administrator, places a vial into a tray at a saliva COVID-19 testing site, operated by Arizona State University and the Arizona Department of Health Services, on Jan. 26, 2022, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Mariana Abasta, a test administrator, places a vial into a tray at a saliva COVID-19 testing site, operated by Arizona State University and the Arizona Department of Health Services, on Jan. 26, 2022, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Embry Health says it was forced to close 60 COVID-19 tests sites in Arizona due to a lack of funding.

The Health Resources and Services Administration provided funding for uninsured people to get free COVID-19 tests. On March 22, the HRSA ran out of money.

Embry continued to fund testing for the uninsured until April 5.

As 60 testing Embry sites in Arizona have closed, 37 other test sites in other states have been closed because of the lack of funding as well.

Out-of-pocket: Will Arizonans need to start paying for COVID-19 vaccines and tests?

Embry started circulating a petition to keep providing free tests to people. It had over 31,000 signatures as of Wednesday night.

There are 79 Embry test sites still operating across Arizona.

Reach breaking news intern Jane Florance at jflorance@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @Florance_Jane.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Embry Health closes 60 COVID-19 test sites, citing lack of funds