Coconino County Health Officials Repeat Call For Social Distancing, Mask Wearing And Hand Washing As Cases Rise

Coconino County Health officials are repeating the call for people to social distance, wash your hands and wear a mask if you can’t social distance. Matt Maurer, county epidemiologist, says the county is coming off a week that saw the highest cases of COVID-19 in the county, with 173, since testing for the virus began. Maurer says most of the cases have come from ages 20-to-44, which was also the group that saw the most testing. Total deaths in COVID-19 related cases are down however. Over the last three weeks the county has seen just six COVID-19 related deaths. Maurer attributes lower death numbers to more research and the latest treatments being done at Flagstaff Medical Center. Maurer says Flagstaff has also seen a rise in cases, saying positive cases are coming from “anywhere we are seeing people not following the prevention guidelines.” He adds: “in places where masks or face coverings are not being worn with no social distancing, we are seeing transmission.” Of the 1,611 total cases in the county as of Thursday, 982 have recovered with still more cases under investigation for recovery. Governor Doug Ducey implored Arizonans Thursday to take preventative measures to help slow the spread of the virus, which includes staying home if you are sick.