AZ Family covers the impact the unexpected loss of federal funding is having both on employees as well as the community. Keeping critical testing infostructure in place is crucial to be able to respond to future surges. 

Over 1,000 employees work daily to keep test, vaccine and future treatment sites open to the community. 

After seeing four of her ten full-time staff furloughed, with no return in site, Altamirano hopes she’s not the next in line. “I’m worried about my employment,” she said. “And about Embry as well, because they’ve grown so fast and rapidly.”

Embry says his company has tried to help those furloughed by allowing them to sign up for shifts when needed. But if Embry Health doesn’t receive federal funding, he’s expecting to face even more challenges if another COVID-19 surge occurs. “It’s essential to keep the infrastructure in place,” he said. “Because it takes months to bring new test sites online.”