Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine and Dr. Shauna McIsaac|Screenshot Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine and Dr. Shauna McIsaac|Screenshot

Here are new developments on Coronavirus in Arizona. The Copper Courier will continue to provide updates as they develop.

Officials identified the state’s most recent case of coronavirus Friday as a healthcare worker employed in Maricopa County but who lives in Pinal County. 

According to both counties, the patient is a woman in her 40s. She is currently hospitalized and in stable condition. 

Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, medical director for disease control for Maricopa County Public Health, and Dr. Shauna McIsaac, director of Pinal County Public Health Department, said they are prevented by law from sharing more information that may reveal who the patient is. 

Health officials said all of the woman’s close contacts have been identified and given information on what to do if they show signs of symptoms. They believe this is Arizona’s first instance of community spread for COVID-19, meaning there is no known source of the woman’s infection. The state’s other two cases have been classified as “travel-related.” 

Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ said she expects the disease to look like a bad flu season in the community. So far this season, 28,000 people in the state have been diagnosed with the flu. 

With projections like that, the state will need plenty of medical professionals. Sunenshine said healthcare workers who come into contact with an infected person will no longer be asked to stay home unless they present symptoms in order to prevent a staff shortage. 

“Before, when we just had one or two cases, our job in public health was to contain the disease and try to keep COVID-19 out of our community,” Sunenshine said at a press conference. “Now that there is community spread, we all need to do our part to slow the spread, which means keeping sick people away from others.”

McIsaac said there are three main ways to best prevent the disease:

  • Wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Anyone showing symptoms of the virus is cautioned to stay home.

For live updates relating to the spread of coronavirus in Arizona, visit our live update page.

Jessica Swarner

Jessica Swarner is the content producer for The Copper Courier. She is an ASU alumna and previously worked at KTAR News 92.3 FM in Phoenix.

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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 07: The Medrano family sits outside their RV on October 07, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. They had narrowly avoided eviction from the RV park earlier in the day. Even for families who have remained healthy from the coronavirus, the indirect effects of the pandemic have been especially tough on America's poor, who often deal with simultaneous crises, even in normal times. In the Medrano family's case, inconsistent work, a string of tragedies and even family separation have combined to push them to the brink of homelessness. This summer Medrano's work as a truck driver was sporadic due to the pandemic economy. Meanwhile, he spent his entire savings on three funerals for family members in less than four months. Causing further family stress, Medrano's wife Ana Cecilia, who had temporary residency status in the U.S. traveled to Mexico in December of 2019 to care for her sick mother, but has since been unable to return to Arizona due to a sealed U.S.-Mexico border. The separation left Hector Medrano to care for their four children, supervising distance learning during the day, while working nights. For families like the Medranos, new federal pandemic assistance, yet to be authorized by Congress, cannot come soon enough. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) Housing Pima County Allocates $10M to Help People on the Edge of Losing Their Homes