Greenlee reports first COVID-19 death of 2022

A Pima resident's death has been contributed to COVID-19.

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

GREENLEE COUNTY – On Monday, the Greenlee County Health Department reported the county’s first COVID-19 associated death of 2022. 

The death was that of a Duncan-area resident in their 70s. For the course of the pandemic, Greenlee County has listed 30 total deaths associated with COVID-19, with 14 from the Duncan area, 11 from the Clifton area, and five from the Morenci area. 

In addition to the new death, the number of positive cases continues to increase rapidly in Greenlee County, which listed 51 new cases on Monday. 

The new positives will increase the county’s active cases to 198. For the course of the pandemic, Greenlee County has had 1,677 confirmed positive cases, with 1,449 recoveries, 30 deaths, and 198 currently active cases. 

Graham County

In Graham County, the health department listed 28 new positive cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday. For the course of the pandemic, Graham County has had 9,304 cases, with 159 deaths. The county currently has roughly 599 active cases. Drive-through testing is available at the Copper Mountain Clinic behind Mount Graham Regional Medical Center during its winter hours of Monday-Friday from 1 – 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Be sure to get in line early, however, as the line was closed an hour early by security after having so many cars with people waiting to be tested.

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.