SAFFORD — December is now the deadliest in Graham County when it comes to COVID-19.
That’s according to data released Monday by Graham County Health Department.
The Health Department reported eight coronavirus-related deaths between Dec. 9 and Dec. 20, bringing the month’s dead due to the virus to 23, with 11 days remaining in the month.
That total tops the month with the previous greatest total of deaths, December 2020, when 16 people died from the virus.
A total of 149 Graham County residents have died as a result of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
The Health Department also reported 143 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 11 days, bringing December’s total thus far to 533. Since the start of the pandemic, 23 percent of the county’s population has tested positive for the virus.
About 64 percent of patients hospitalized at Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center are admitted due to coronavirus, with 90 percent of those patients unvaccinated for the virus.
Graham County Health Department is providing free vaccines to anyone 5-years-old and older, and boosters to anyone 18 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 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 1-7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
