Seniors: Get your COVID-19 vaccine protection up to date
COVID-19 has been especially dangerous for older people throughout the pandemic, but data on the current increase in cases provides even more reason for those in this age group to make sure their vaccines are up to date. Compared to the winter surge driven by the Omicron variant, Arizona has since February seen a greater share of cases, hospitalizations, and [...]
Ten Arizona counties, including Maricopa, have high COVID-19 community levels
Community levels from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have moved up and down in many Arizona counties over the past few weeks. The latest CDC update has 10 counties, including Maricopa, with high COVID-19 community levels. This means masks are recommended for public indoor settings. The other counties with high COVID-19 community levels are Apache, Coconino, Gila, [...]
National Tracking Awareness Week: Helping inform critical public health decisions
This is National Tracking Awareness Week, which highlights the work of environmental public health tracking programs in Arizona and elsewhere. Tracking efforts include monitoring community health, identifying communities at risk, supporting epidemiological studies, educating the community, informing local planners, and providing input to health policy decisions. That’s no small task, and it’s a big part of what we do at [...]
It’s hot out there. Drink plenty of water to stay healthy
It should go without saying that during the hottest time of the year, in one of the hottest states in the country, it’s important to stay hydrated. But how much water and other fluids do you need when temperatures are extreme? The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined an adequate daily fluid intake for men is about [...]
Here’s what you can do with the BA.5 subvariant establishing itself in Arizona
The Omicron subvariant BA.5 accounts for a rapidly growing share of sequenced cases in Arizona — 53% during the week ending July 2 and likely even higher today. Evidence suggests that this version of the virus that causes COVID-19 is better at eluding immune protection offered by vaccination or previous infection. It’s understandable to be concerned about BA.5 and to [...]
State Hospital caring for patients, training next generation of caregivers
The Arizona State Hospital (ASH) provides “the highest and most restrictive” level of long-term psychiatric care in the state to Arizonans with mental illnesses who are under court order for treatment. Our staff provide high-quality inpatient psychiatric care, using a multi-disciplinary team approach, and are committed to treating patients with dignity and respect. The team at ASH, located at 24th [...]