Health Department lists four deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the past week.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – Another update from the Graham County Department of Health and Human Services includes another death attributed to COVID-19.
The death was the fourth announced in the past week that has been attributed to COVID-19. No other information regarding the death was released.
On Monday, the health department issued an update covering the previous four days. The update advised of 22 new confirmed positive test results, with six being released on Monday alone. The new tests hail from throughout Graham County, with 12 from the Safford zip code, four from the Thatcher zip code, and three from the Pima/Bylas zip code, and three unknown.
The new positive tests bring the county’s active cases to 55. For the pandemic, Graham County has had 5,658 confirmed cases, with 5,516 recovered, 55 active, and 87 deaths.
The health department has urged the community to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 97% of recent hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have been by people who have not been vaccinated, and 99% of deaths are by those unvaccinated as well.
“Since December, nearly 11,000 COVID-19 vaccinations have been given to Graham County residents without one severe reaction or hospitalization,” a release from the health department stated. “The vaccine is safe and effective. We strongly encourage everyone 18 years of age and older to receive your vaccination today. Currently, we offer the two-dose Moderna vaccine as well as the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.”
“Please call the Graham County Health Department at 928-428-0110 to schedule your appointment at our vaccination clinic located at 627 W. Main St in Safford or contact your primary care physician.”
Greenlee County
The Greenlee County Health Department announced two additional positive tests for COVID-19 on Sunday, to increase its active cases to 28.
For the course of the pandemic Greenlee County has listed 609 positive tests, with 571 recovered cases, 28 active, and 10 deaths.
The COVID-19 vaccine is free and available in both counties, and the Pfizer vaccine is available to administer to juveniles 12 and older and is given locally at the Safeway in Thatcher at 2125 W. U.S. Highway 70 for free.
