Pinal Today

As of March 17, the total count of COVID-19 in Pinal County was up to five.

A March 6 news release from Maricopa County stated a health care worker in her 40s presumptively tested positive for COVID-19. This patient is currently living in Pinal County and is in stable condition and undergoing treatment in a Maricopa County hospital. She has no confirmed exposure to any others with COVID-19. The case is being treated as a community spread due to this resident not traveling or being exposed prior to contracting the virus.

“Community spread refers to the spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown," Dr. Shauna McIsaac, director of the Pinal County Public Health Department, said in the release. "Just like during flu season, if you get symptoms, you need to stay home and take care of yourself." 

The coronavirus is a severe upper respiratory infection that causes a dry cough and high fever, which sometimes follows with shortness of breath. Many people will lead with minor symptoms that will not require medical attention, however, some will have more severe symptoms that can become critical or even cause death.

“We are moving into a public health strategy that is just like seasonal flu. We know that health care workers are exposed to people with flu and other infectious diseases all the time and therefore are at higher risk, which is why they wear personal protective equipment,” Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, medical director for disease control at Maricopa County Department of Public Health, said in the release. “We are no longer recommending quarantine of exposed health care workers who don’t show any symptoms because we need our health care workforce during this response.”

Pinal County and Maricopa County are working closely together to find and interview those that have been in contact with the case and to educate and suggest quarantine as well as monitoring of symptoms.

In order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control recommends staying home when you are sick, washing your hands thoroughly and regularly, covering your cough and sneezes, and wiping down areas and keeping them clean.