SAFFORD — While February finished with the fifth greatest number of new COVID-19 cases in the Gila Valley since the start of the pandemic, there is good news.
On Monday, Graham County Health Department reported just seven new cases over the previous four days, the first time a report was in single digits since last August.
February finished with a total of 766 new cases, an average of 28 new cases a day. January finished with an average of 71 new cases a day and December saw an average of 19 new cases per day.
The new cases bring the total number of Graham County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic to 11,878.
The Health Department also reported Thursday another coronavirus-related death, bringing February’s death toll to seven and a total number of dead due to COVID-19 to 171 since the start of the pandemic.
Arizona Department of Health Services reports 50.2 percent of Graham county’s population has been vaccinated for coronavirus. Graham County Health Department is providing free vaccines to anyone 5-years-old and older, and free boosters to anyone 12 and older. To schedule an appointment for the free vaccine or booster, go to Activities • Graham County, AZ • CivicEngage.
Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center, in partnership with the United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties, is offering free drive-up COVID-19 testing at the hospital’s Copper Mountain Clinic. Free drive-up testing takes place Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
