Graham County now averaging less than four new COVID cases per day

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

GRAHAM COUNTY – Over the past nine days, Graham County has averaged less than four new COVID-19 confirmed cases per day. 

That is a drastic reduction from a high of more than 100 daily confirmed cases from peaks during January and February.

The lowered new cases have also dropped the currently active caseload from more than 1,000 to 288 as of Wednesday. For the course of the pandemic, Graham County has had 11,918 confirmed cases, 11,458 recoveries, 172 deaths, with 288 currently active cases. 

With the lower numbers, the Copper Mountain Clinic has updated its drive-through free COVID testing site behind Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center to Monday – Saturday, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) put out data regarding rates of COVID-19 by vaccination statusClick here to go through the data, which states that in January unvaccinated people had an 11 times greater chance of contracting COVID-19, a 67 times greater risk of hospitalization, and 180 times greater risk of dying from it than those who have been fully vaccinated with a booster shot.   

The Graham County Department of Health and Human Services offers free vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson and has booster shots for those 18 and over. Additionally, children 5 and up can receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and adults can have any of the three. The health department provides the vaccine Mondays from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Thursdays from 2 – 5 p.m., and the Pfizer vaccine for those 5 and older on Thursdays from 5 – 7:30 p.m. and Fridays from 2 – 5 p.m. Click here to register to receive a vaccine. Vaccines are also available at local pharmacies such as Palo Verde Pharmacy in Pima, and, in Greenlee County, at Gila Health Resources.