ADHS continues to enhance statewide health improvement efforts
With an eye toward improving health across the state of Arizona, ADHS uses a community assessment process and partner engagement to build health improvement plans. In 2015, ADHS and community organizations unveiled the first 2016-2020 Arizona Health Improvement Plan (AzHIP). The 2016-2020 AzHIP has made a great impact as more than 350 unique action items were completed to address key [...]
New CDC guidance: The best mask is one you will wear consistently
Throughout the pandemic, public health has recommended wearing masks to reduce COVID-19 spread. All types of recommended masks, when worn properly and consistently, protect you and the community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its guidance to note that some masks offer greater protection than others, with certified N95 and KN95 masks on top of its [...]
Unvaccinated 17.5 times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19
There’s an important addition in today’s update on COVID-19 outcomes by vaccination status: During November, unvaccinated people were 17.5 times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 than the fully vaccinated. Hospitalization data provides a deeper look at the numbers in this twice-monthly report posted at the top of the ADHS COVID-19 Data Dashboard. Also during November, the report shows, [...]
As COVID-19 cases rise, please help keep ERs open for emergencies
With the Omicron variant spreading rapidly, Arizona has seen more COVID-19 cases in the past week than any other week of the pandemic. Alongside this increase, we’ve seen more people seeking care in hospital emergency rooms and more people seeking COVID-19 testing. Both of these are challenging in their own right. But one avoidable problem is occurring: Hospitals report that [...]
CDC report looks at risk factors in COVID-19 cases among the fully vaccinated
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has important findings about COVID-19 breakthrough cases among fully vaccinated individuals: It’s extremely rare for a breakthrough case to lead to severe outcomes. When a severe outcome such as intensive care admission does occur from a breakthrough case, the individual is almost certain to have at least one [...]
ADHS launches ‘Count the Kicks’ to improve birth outcomes
How excited did you feel the first time you felt your baby move? What begins like a small flutter in the early stages of pregnancy often progresses to full blown kicks (and punches!) by the third trimester. While it can be great fun for parents to feel or see their baby moving around, paying close attention to those kicks can [...]