Coronavirus testing here is beginning to ramp up, seven weeks after Arizona's first case of the new coronavirus was confirmed.

At least two sites in the state have started drive-up testing. Additional sites are on the way.

Soon, Arizonans should see testing that's more broadly available. People without symptoms still won't be able to get a test, but most others who are having symptoms should be able to get one.

State officials said they would provide more detailed information later this week.

Arizona's case count of COVID-19 infections was 21 as of Tuesday. The patients range in age from a school-age child to people in their 80s. There have been no deaths from the virus in Arizona.

Some public health experts say the case tally in Arizona and across the U.S. is a vast undercount because of limited and narrow testing. The state has not done any aggressive testing of people who are not seriously ill.

There is some evidence that people who are infected and yet have no symptoms are still able to spread COVID-19.

The state has set up a hotline for patients and health care workers with questions about the illness. It is 844-542-8201.

Why so few people have been tested in Arizona

A total of about 221 Arizonans have been tested for the virus to date, and testing parameters have meant not everyone with symptoms who wanted a test could get one.

The state lab has been testing samples from people who traveled to areas affected by COVID-19, people who have had known contact with an infected person, and severely ill people who have been ruled out for having other respiratory illnesses.

Drive-through testing, other efforts ramp up

Gov. Doug Ducey and Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ met this week with representatives from the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Banner Health, Sonora Quest and Mayo Clinic to discuss efforts to expand public lab testing capacity for COVID-19.

They also talked about establishing mobile and drive-through testing sites across the state, the governor's office said.

Here's what we know about COVID-19 testing in Arizona:

Coconino County in northern Arizona is offering drive-up testing to people with a doctor's order at its county fairgrounds. TGEN is processing the tests.

in northern Arizona is offering drive-up testing to people with a doctor's order at its county fairgrounds. TGEN is processing the tests. Mayo Clinic in Arizona has set up a mobile test collection site. It's only for Mayo patients who have a doctor's order.

in Arizona has set up a mobile test collection site. It's only for Mayo patients who have a doctor's order. TGen has begun "population screening" of people who suspect they might be sick with the coronavirus by testing batches of samples sent by other labs.

has begun "population screening" of people who suspect they might be sick with the coronavirus by testing batches of samples sent by other labs. The state health lab is still focused on testing the highest-risk patients.

is still focused on testing the highest-risk patients. Banner Health , along with Sonora Quest Laboratories , will begin broader testing of patients at collection sites in Arizona. The locations have yet to be announced. Banner Health's sites are expected to significantly increase the number of tests conducted in Arizona because patients won't need a doctor's order. They will need to have symptoms — typically a fever, cough and shortness of breath — and agree to quarantine themselves until they get the results of their tests.

, along with , will begin broader testing of patients at collection sites in Arizona. The locations have yet to be announced. Banner Health's sites are expected to significantly increase the number of tests conducted in Arizona because patients won't need a doctor's order. They will need to have symptoms — typically a fever, cough and shortness of breath — and agree to quarantine themselves until they get the results of their tests. North Carolina-based LabCorp, another testing laboratory, is able to test samples collected by doctors and sent to the company, with results available in three to four days, according to the company. The LabCorp tests may only be ordered by physicians or other health-care providers and not directly by patients, a company statement says.

"We know the capacity of Sonora Quest right now is about 1,000 patients per day. Our capacity would be about 450 at the Arizona State Lab," Christ told reporters in Tucson Tuesday. "We know that Sonora Quest is trying to get to 4,000 per day. We are working with our partners to increase that capacity."

Christ said a nationwide shortage of nasal swabs needed for testing could become a challenge moving forward.

One doctor's story: 'Misinformation and mistakes'

Arizona has, "way more" cases than 21, said Dr. Joy Wolfe, a family practice physician in Ahwatukee who said her recent effort to test a patient, a health care worker, for COVID-19, was difficult, chaotic and maddening.

"Ignorance is not bliss in this situation — it's better to know. ... More testing can't happen soon enough," she said.

Wolfe said she had to test the patient two separate times and call, call and call again until she finally got the result Tuesday. It was negative. But it should not have been so hard to get an answer, she said.

"I'm a bulldog," she said. "I don't let things go."

Wolfe said her patient's first test sample, collected Thursday, was discarded and not processed by the state lab because it did not meet a narrow set of testing criteria. The second test, collected Friday, was processed by a commercial lab. She got the results four days later.

In frustration, Wolfe took to Facebook and complained about the "misinformation and mistakes" occurring with handling the new coronavirus pandemic in the Valley. More people need to be tested in order to stop the spread. It's better to know, she said.

Similarly, the Arizona Medical Association on Friday issued a statement of concern about limited testing as doctors expect to see a surge in illness.

Earlier this week, the World Health Organization said some countries are not doing enough testing, and that the key to stopping the pandemic is knowing who is infected.

Reach the reporter at Stephanie.Innes@gannett.com or at 602-444-8369. Follow her on Twitter @stephanieinnes

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