The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) shared information about the COVID-19, also called Coronavirus Disease, in a press conference Monday, explaining current cases in the Valley and what communities can do next.
There is one confirmed case of the Coronavirus in the Valley, while another case is pending, according to what ADHS shared at the press conference.
Coronavirus is a respiratory disease with symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. At the conference, ADHS Director Dr. Cara Christ said the disease can range from mild to severe, and can be fatal in certain cases.
In 2009, Dr. Christ led Arizona to respond to the Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 outbreak, as well as the 2014 Ebola outbreak and the 2016 measles outbreak, Gov. Doug Ducey said.
“When it comes to our response in preparation here in Arizona, we have an outstanding team at the Arizona Department of Health Services led by Dr. Cara Christ,” Ducey said. “I believe there is no one better in the country at this.”
According to Christ, people should take the same precautions just as they would with any other respiratory disease. It is recommended that individuals wash their hands for 20 seconds. If that is not an option, it is highly encouraged to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
It is suggested the public “disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, get your seasonal influenza vaccine, and get up-to-date information on COVID-19 from reputable sources like the CDC, ADHS or your local health care department,” according to the ADHS.
“As of today in Arizona, there has been one confirmed case of COVID-19,” Christ said. “This case was in a person with the history of travel to Wuhan, China.”
Christ announced that the patient has recovered and is no longer infected with COVID-19.
“As of this morning, we have one patient in the state that has pending lab results for COVID-19,” Christ said.
It is expected that this disease will continue to spread, as it advances similarly to the common flu. Christ said the disease has been carefully examined, allowing up to 450 samples to be tested by the lab per day.
According to Christ, an “increase in the number of cases does not necessarily mean the disease is more severe.” But because the disease is expected to spread, communities in the downtown area are not at any higher risk compared to other cities in Arizona.
“I don’t believe that downtown Phoenix is necessarily at a higher risk than other parts of the state for the COVID-19 spread,” Jessica Rigler, assistant director of Preventive Health Services, said. “But, of course, population density spread does play a role in disease transmission.”
Rigler said Preventive Health Services has seen cases where diseases like COVID-19 have spread in communities where people did not travel out of the country, and downtown Phoenix, like the rest of the state, could see more cases.
“It is entirely possible we will see additional cases pop up in downtown Phoenix or around the state,” Rigler said.
Preventing and informing the public about how to minimize the spread of the disease is one of Gov. Ducey’s concerns.
“Public health and safety are the most important responsibilities of the state government, and we take this threat seriously,” Ducey said. The governor said he was confident about Christ and her team’s ability to manage the COVID-19 situation.
“Arizona is in good hands,” he said.
Contact the reporter at aglidic@asu.edu
