SAFFORD — Twelve more Graham County residents tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday.
“We need help from our community to strengthen our efforts to slow the spread of the virus,” Graham County Health Department officials said in announcing the new cases. “It’s more important than ever to wear face coverings in public, social distance by six feet, wash hands frequently and stay home.”
The new cases bring the county’s total to 328, with 260 active, 63 recovered and five deaths.
Graham County has conducted 2,355 tests, for a 13.9 percent infection rate; however health officials say that rate is a bit misleading.
“We don’t have resources to test everybody; that’s become very evident. So most providers, and the Health Department also, we are testing symptomatic folks,” Melissa Lunt, public health nurse supervisor, said during a recent appearance on Voice of the Valley.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe announced 20 new cases Thursday, bringing the tribe’s total to 360, with 136 active, 217 recovered and seven deaths.
The tribe reports the average number of active cases are on an upward trend, climbing from 103 the week of June 26 to 112 this week.
Greenlee County continues to hold at 39 cases, with 12 recovered, 26 active and one death.
Greenlee County will be the site of the next COVID-19 testing blitz, when Gila Health Resources holds free drive-through testing Saturday, July 25, from 7-11 a.m., in Morenci.
