Contributed Photo/Courtesy U.S. Census Bureau
Greenlee County adds two additional COVID-19 deaths
By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – On Monday, the Graham County Department of Health and Human Services announced four new deaths attributed to COVID-19.
The new deaths bring the county’s total for the pandemic to 126. The health department also announced 141 new confirmed cases from the past four days, increasing the total of currently active cases to 721.
For the course of the pandemic, Graham County has had 8,334 total confirmed cases, with 7,487 recoveries, 721 currently active cases, and 126 deaths. Graham County has a COVID-19 death rate of 1.51 percent per confirmed case.
The biggest age group affected has been those 20-44 with 3,864 cases, followed by those under 20 with 1,500 cases, those 45-54 with 1,169 cases, those 55-64 with 888 cases, those 65 and older with 878 cases, and 35 unknown.
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, Graham County has a COVID-19 rate of 21,660 per 100,000 population. That is good for the worst rate out of any of Arizona’s 15 counties, with the next closest being Navajo County with a rate of 21,217 per 100,000 population, and Apache County with a rate of 20,960 per 100,000 population.
Conversely, despite a recent uptick in cases, Greenlee County has the lowest rate of cases by county in the state with 12,828 per 100,000 population. Greenlee is followed by Cochise County with 13,414 cases per 100,000 population, and Yavapai County with 13,581 cases per 100,000 population. The state’s average is 17,319 cases per 100,000 population.
While some cases are asymptomatic or improve within a week or two, other cases have lingered with mild to severe effects for months and even more than a year, while it proves fatal to others. While those who have already had the virus and survived likely have natural antibodies to fight the virus from quickly returning, for those who have not had the virus the best way to avoid catching it is to be vaccinated.
The Graham County Department of Health and Human Services offers free vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. Now, children 5 and up can receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and adults can have any of the three. The department is now also offering booster shots. The health department provides the vaccine Mondays-Wednesdays from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Thursdays from 2 – 5 p.m., and the Pfizer vaccine on Thursdays and Fridays from 5 – 7:30 p.m. Click here to register to receive a vaccine.
Greenlee County
The Greenlee County Health Department has reported two additional deaths attributed to COVID-19 over Nov. 18-20, giving the county a total of 18 deceased for the course of the pandemic. The county has had eight deaths from the Duncan area, six from the Clifton area, and four from the Morenci area. According to the health department’s release, the most recent death was a Morenci-area resident in their 50s. The second death from Nov. 18 was also a Morenci-area resident in their 50s.
The department also advised of six new cases on Sunday to put its current total at 1,378 for the course of the pandemic, with 1,138 recoveries, 222 active cases, and 18 deaths.
Greenlee County is offering the COVID-19 vaccine for everyone ages 5 and up and also has booster shots for those over the age of 18.
