Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: Masks made by volunteers, such as these made by Pamela Evans, are available for free from the Graham County Department of Health Services.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – Seven new positive tests for COVID-19 reported on Sunday by the Graham County Department of Health Services put Graham County’s total number of cases at 92.
All seven new positive tests were from Safford. Graham County currently has 57 active cases with 33 recovered and two deaths, both of whom were elderly patients with underlying health conditions.
According to Graham County Health Director Brian Douglas, the public should be following the department’s recommendations to help slow down the spread of the virus, which can cause severe illness or death, but for most people causes an illness akin to the flu.
The ages of Graham County’s positive cases include 17 under the age of 20, 21 between the ages of 21-34, 35 between the ages of 35-64, and 19 who are 65 or older.
“As COVID-19 cases continue to increase in our area, Graham County Health Department is asking our residents to strengthen their efforts to slow the spread of the virus,” Douglas said. “I know we can improve our efforts in wearing face coverings in public, social distancing by six feet, washing hands frequently, and staying at home. These measures will continue for the foreseeable future.
Although some residents are complying with our recommendations, many are not. Most recently, we are finding COVID-19 transmission occurring with people who are not wearing face coverings in public, at work, and those attending gatherings at homes of families and friends.
Thank you for doing your part and please continue to be diligent in taking extra precautions as we try to protect each other and the community.”
To date, Graham County has tested 1,584 people with 92 positive results. The county has about 39,000 residents.
