Ten new positive tests make 39 for the week so far
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – The Graham County Department of Health and Human Services announced an additional death from COVID-19 on Thursday.
The deceased is a Thatcher resident over the age of 65. With the new death, the total for the pandemic in Graham County is now at 20, and the death rate for those known to be infected raised to 3.4 percent. However, a number of people who get infected show little to no symptoms and do not end up getting tested, so the death rate is likely lower than the one that can be calculated.
The health department also announced 10 new positive COVID-19 cases on Wednesday to bring Graham County’s total to 584. That makes 39 cases from Sunday to Thursday. While the county may not yet meet benchmarks from the state regarding the number of positive cases, the numbers have been going down from 94 in one week two weeks ago, and 59 for the week last week.
According to benchmarks from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), Graham County needs to average less than 40 new positive tests per week to be in the “moderate” threshold, which would allow some shuttered businesses to petition to reopen. The county needs to meet three separate benchmarks for two weeks in a row to meet the requirement. The benchmarks include the number of new cases, the percent positivity of tests, and the hospitalization of COVID-like illness for the region. Graham County’s region includes Greenlee, Cochise, Pima, and Santa Cruz counties.
To date, the health department has tested 3,192 people, with 584 positives, 349 active cases, 215 recovered cases, and 20 deaths.
