SAFFORD — Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center reported the average daily number of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 dropped for the third week in a row.
The average daily count of those hospitalized due to coronavirus fell from 11 the week of Sept. 22 to nine the week of Sept. 29.
However, the percentage of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 who have not been vaccinated increased, from 93.2 percent last week to 94.64 percent this week.
Brian Douglas, Health Department director, said that 49.6 percent of Graham County’s population has been vaccinated.
“We’re continuing to advertise and to strongly encourage our residents to be vaccinated,” he said.
According to data released Thursday by Graham County Health Department, September ended with 765 new COVID-19 cases in the Gila Valley and 10 coronavirus-related deaths. The Health Department also reported the current number of active cases is down to 550 as of Sept. 30.
The 765 cases in September is the fourth most in a single month since the start of the pandemic, behind 1,889 cases in January, 1,013 in December and 969 in November.
September also had the fourth-most coronavirus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, behind 16 in December, 14 in January and 13 in August 2020.
Graham County continues to offer free vaccinations for anyone over the age of 12 at the vaccination clinic on Main Street at Safford.
To schedule an appointment, go to Activities • Graham County, AZ • CivicEngage.
