MOHAVE COUNTY – Late Sunday afternoon, the Mohave County Health Department (MCDPH) Nursing staff was notified of 7 new COVID-19 confirmed cases on this Sunday. Five of the cases are in the Bullhead City service area and the remaining two are in the Lake Havasu City service area.

All five Bullhead City area cases are still under investigation. One is 20-29; one is 40-49; one is 50-59; one is 60-69; one is 70-79.

Both Lake Havasu City area cases are under investigation. One is 30-39 and one is 80-89.

There are now 510 positive confirmed cases in the Lake Havasu City area, including 14 deaths, 394 in Kingman, with a total of 46 deaths there, and 35 cases in “North County,” formerly referred to as “Other”(composed of a number of smaller Mohave County communities,)  and 875 in Bullhead City, including 33 deaths. There are now a total of 93 deaths in the county from the disease. Total positive cases, 1,814.

There will be a special Mohave County Board of Supervisors meeting tomorrow at 12 noon and county Health Director Denise Burley will be giving an update and answering questions from the supervisors.  The public can watch it on YouTube. Just type in Mohave County Board of Supervisors meeting and it will be among the items that show up.

The average age of all Mohave County positive cases is now 48.6 years old.

The Average age of deaths from COVID-19 in Mohave County is now 78.2.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

As of now the MCDPH is reporting a total of 499 recovered cases in the county. This will be updated once a week on Monday afternoon for the previous week.

Patients who believe they may have active COVID-19 are strongly encouraged to contact their health care provider or locate an Arizona Testing Blitz site for testing at https://www.azdhs.gov/testingblitz

For more information about the COVID-19 testing service, visit www.SonoraQuest.com/coronavirus.

The number of Mohave County confirmed cases has risen dramatically. Please notice that the count includes all ages, not just the elderly. It is vital that people continue to practice Social Distancing and wear masks in public. Always wash your hands when returning to your office or home. Things might seem more normal now, but, we’re simply not there yet. Please be alert and be safe.

For those seeking more detailed stats about COVID-19 in Mohave County, the state of Arizona, and the country, go to https://covid-19-mohave.hub.arcgis.com/.

The Mohave County Department of Public Health makes contact with all confirmed cases and encourages self-isolation for ten days to two weeks, depending on their symptoms and unique work and living situation. Public Health staff then identify the people who have been exposed to the confirmed case (contact tracing) and encourage them to self-isolate until they are past the point of possibly developing the infection.  Public Health monitors each confirmed case, and all of their contacts are during their quarantines.

Also, for additional statewide information about the COVID-19 response, go to https://azdhs.gov/

There remains the problem of an overall lack of interest in wearing a mask, staying home when sick, and true adherence to social distancing. This allows the COVID-19 virus to continue its march through our county. Over confidence is not the best attitude.

Meanwhile, please keep in mind that the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are to: 

*Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when unable to social distance.

*Maintain Social Distancing (at least 6 Feet apart!)

*Stay at home if at all possible.

* Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

*Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

* Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick.

* Stay home when you are sick, or if you are a not an essential employee.

* Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then immediately throw the tissue in the trash.

* Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

*Beware of false rumors and attempts to discredit COVID-19. It is not a hoax. Check reliable sources when new information comes out.

COVID-19 spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms are thought to appear within two to 14 days after exposure and consist of fever, cough, runny nose, and difficulty breathing. For people with mild illness, individuals are asked to stay home, drink plenty of fluids, and get rest. For people with more severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath, individuals are advised to seek healthcare, using telemedicine where available.

The post COVID-19 update: Total of 93 deaths; 1,814 cases; 499 recoveries first appeared on The Standard Newspaper Online.