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, […]