QUEEN CREEK, AZ — On a record-breaking heat morning, when it reached above 100 degrees before noon, a testing blitz that was supposed to see hundreds was looking pretty empty Saturday morning.
"We have up to 3,000 tests available, so we are ready all we need is for people to show up," said Raymond Embry from Embry Women's Health. His company set up the testing blitz that started at 7 a.m. on Friday morning and runs through 11 p.m. on Sunday night.
The message from Embry is specifically geared towards those who are parents and plan on sending their children back to brick and mortar buildings across the East Valley.
"Especially those going back to school Monday, to come out and get tested. We will have fast results; we are confident that anyone who gets tested at Queen Creek High School this weekend will get their results by Tuesday," says Raymond Embry.
One of those in line to get tested is Drew Baldwin. He sat in a car along with his 18-month-old daughter Adaline. Baldwin was at the Queen Creek testing blitz getting both of them tested.
"I'm not a fan of it but to please others and not be selfish," said Baldwin of his daughter getting tested at such a young age.
"I've been traveling from Spokane to Vegas and from Vegas to here just for the peace of mind for others that she's going to be around just want to get her tested," he added.
The testing blitz is helping test some of those teachers who are headed back into the classroom and will be surrounded by students, according to Jake Frantz, current president of the Queen Creek Education Association. Frantz resigned from his teaching position on Friday afternoon. He says the entire science department at Queen Creek High School has been dismantled after school board administrators ignored their pleas for fully online teaching or hybrid model.
"It feels like they are waiting for people to get hurt. The people that are making the decisions at our district seem to the people who think that COVID is just a cold just push through it, a couple of people will get sick and it will be fine," says Frantz.
For those who have opted for in-person learning, Embry says taking advantage of this free testing site at the school should be on top of any parent's mind.
"To do the responsible thing and get them tested to ensure the safety of everyone participating in in-person learning," says Embry.
While an appointment is encouraged, Embry says they will take anyone with an ID who is looking to be tested.
