Two additional COVID-19 cases in Graham County reported Thursday

Graham County now has had a total of six confirmed cases with two recoveries

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

SAFFORD – After a month without any new COVID-19 positive tests, Graham County has now had two new cases reported on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the county to six. 

The two new cases reported Thursday were identified in the investigation of the two new cases found on Wednesday and are from the same household, according to Graham County Health Department Director Brian Douglas. 

The area for the current four cases are located in households in Safford and Pima. All of the known close contact have been notified and placed into quarantine by the health department until cleared. 

Each of the four new patients do not require hospitalization and are recovering at home. The ages of all six patients include one teenager, three who are between the ages of 35-45, and two who are 65 or older. 

“We as a County are continually preparing to care for the afflicted as this virus is spreading throughout our state,” Douglas said in a news release. “There is no treatment or vaccine for Covid-19 at this time, so we are focusing heavily on prevention.”

According to a news release from the Graham County Department of Health and Human Services, the health department is investigating possible exposures to the two new positive tests and isolate and quarantine those sick with the illness and anyone who had close contact with them during their infectious period.

The two new patients on Thursday live in the same household, the two that were reported Wednesday don’t but share a common workplace, according to the release. The health department declined to advise where the workplace was to help keep the patients’ privacy.

“Those people who need to be contacted have been contacted,” Graham County Health Department Director Brian Douglas said.

“We are still in the midst of this pandemic and it is critical that we continue to follow the CDC guidelines and the ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected’ executive order,” Douglas said.

As of Thursday, Greenlee County still only had its original two cases who have both recovered, and the San Carlos Apache Tribe has not had any positive tests for COVID-19.

General things that everyone should do to prevent the spread of all respiratory illnesses include: 

● Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
● Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
● Stay home when you are sick.
● Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
● Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular EPA registered household cleaning spray or wipes.
● Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
● Wear a facemask when in public.
● When shopping, limit the number of people who you take with you. If possible, pick one person from your household to do the shopping.
● Find up to date information at azhealth.gov/COVID-19 and at 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html