The city of Tolleson is partnering with Maricopa County officials, its local school district and Southwellness Comprehensive Medical Care to host two free COVID-19 community testing events this month.
The events will take place Saturday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 22 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Arizona Desert Elementary School gymnasium.
The city recommends people set up appointments onlineor by phone before the event, but no one will be turned away. Free masks will be handed out at both events.
“We are testing every single person regardless if insurance or not so I would say bring the entire family to come and get tested," said Mayor Anna Tovar.
She said people can expect to get results back within two to three days.
“In the past, our community members were waiting sometimes up to two weeks for those results and at that point it is ineffective in regards to that test," she said. "But hopefully with partnering with Southwellness, this is going to be a solution to people's frustration."
The testing event is critical for the city of about 7,000. Tolleson is a COVID-19 hot spot within Maricopa County, according to a June report by Maricopa County public health. In June, the West Valley city’s case rate per 100,000 people was two times higher than the county’s.
Tovar said the city's population is predominately Latino and residents tend to be essential workers and live in multi-generational homes. She said the city is looking to offer a solution for families who don't have a space in their homes for someone to quarantine when they become sick.
The city is hoping to offer a space like a hotel where people can quarantine away from their families until they test negative at least twice, Tovar said. The city would also provide free meals to these people.