More than 300 cases of coronavirus at area prisons

- David Bell Graph/Gila Valley Central

SAFFORD — Friday was the single worst day in terms of new COVID-19 cases in the Gila Valley . . . on paper.

The Graham County Health Department reported 365 new positive cases of coronavirus Friday; however, 309 of those cases are at area prisons, and date back to as far as Dec. 28.

Of the remaining cases, 34 were in the Safford area, 10 in Thatcher, five in Pima and seven were on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.

As a result of Friday’s report, there have been 738 new cases in the Gila Valley in January thus far. But even without the cases at correctional facilities, January’s new cases are more than double those recorded through the first eight days of December.

The Health Department also announced late Thursday another coronavirus-related death, the fourth in the past three days and the 55th in the Gila Valley since the start of the pandemic. Data on the residence and age of the victim was not immediately made available.

Graham County’s total is now at 3,966, with 1,538 of the cases considered active.

Greenlee County

Greenlee County experienced its fourth coronavirus-related death Thursday.

The Greenlee County Health Department reported that the victim is a Clifton resident over the age of 60.

Two of the COVID-19 deaths in Greenlee County have involved Clifton residents and two were Duncan residents.

The county also recorded six new cases Thursday, bringing the total number of new cases in January to 41.

Since the start of the pandemic, Greenlee County has experienced 456 cases and there are 164 cases considered active.

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