SAFFORD — The count of positive COVID-19 cases in Graham County has climbed again, although none of the new cases are currently recuperating in the county.
According to the Graham County Health Department, three new positive cases were reported between May 9 and May 12, bringing the county’s total to 21 since the start of the pandemic.
The Health Department identifies the three people infected as “tribal members,” but specifies that it appears none of the people contracted the virus on tribal lands or within non-tribal Graham County.
According to Brian Douglas, director of the Graham County Health Department, the tests were conducted in Maricopa and Pima counties and all data was submitted to the San Carlos Apache Public Health Department.
Despite the people recuperating outside the county, the cases are assigned to Graham County as those people identify Graham County as their permanent place of residence.
To date, there have been five people under the age of 20 who have been infected, 11 are 35-55 years old and seven who are 65 and older.
There have been no COVID-19-realted deaths in Graham County.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 11:44 a.m. Wednesday, May 13, 2020, to include information from Brian Douglas.
