COVID-19 deaths remain well below what Arizona has seen during major surges, but the 71 deaths added in today's weekly dashboard update are a grim reminder that COVID-19 is still present and taking lives. I mention this to help highlight some very positive news also added to our dashboard: During October, Arizonans who had received [...]
In early 2021, Governor Doug Ducey called on ADHS to open a first-of-its-kind, 24-hour COVID-19 mass-vaccination site at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. The timeline was bold, even audacious: Have the site up and running in less than a week. But with public safety and health top priorities throughout his tenure, the governor pointed to [...]
Eight Arizona counties, including Pima County, have high COVID-19 community levels in the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This means masks are recommended for public indoor settings. The other counties with high COVID-19 community levels are Apache, Cochise, Gila, Greenlee, La Paz, Navajo, and Yuma. All other counties, including [...]
Pinal County recently recorded this season’s first pediatric influenza death in Arizona. This heartbreaking news is a reminder that children younger than 5 who get influenza are among those at increased risk of complications including pneumonia, worsening of chronic conditions, encephalopathy, and sinus and ear infections. Quite simply, influenza is an unpredictable virus that can [...]
Given that today is Public Health Thank You Day in the U.S., you'd expect me to praise our team at ADHS and the many others who promote healthier and stronger communities in Arizona's counties, cities, towns, and tribal nations. And I will do that – briefly. Amid a global pandemic, the professionals in Arizona's public [...]
Public health data helps ADHS tell the public where disease is occurring and who is most affected. An example is high COVID-19 death rates among seniors compared to other age ranges in Arizona. This helps people make informed personal decisions on how best to conduct their activities. That’s why I'm pleased to highlight Susan Robinson, [...]
I've said it before, and I'll say it again now: COVID-19 vaccines save lives. The latest strong evidence is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study that underscores the benefits of vaccination for older people and others at higher risk of severe COVID-19. It links COVID-19 vaccinations in 2021 with 650,000 fewer hospitalizations [...]
Is the COVID-19 pandemic over? That question is getting a lot of attention this week, and it's natural to wonder where ADHS stands. In Arizona, however, we look past terminology to the impact of a virus on the health and wellness of our residents. There's no question that COVID-19 remains a state, national, and global [...]
I'm pleased that so many Arizonans – better than 50,000 as of last Wednesday – have received COVID-19 Omicron boosters targeting the subvariants that currently dominate. This is the best way to make sure your immune protection is up-to-date, especially if you are older or have a weakened immune system. One challenge being seen across [...]
For months, our report detailing COVID-19 outcomes by vaccination status has provided a telling look at the benefits of getting vaccinated. Now we've updated this monthly report to look at outcomes for those who are up-to-date for all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including recommended booster doses, and those who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination [...]
