The City of Nogales was made aware of a 5th confirmed case of COVID-19 in Santa Cruz County. The 5th case comes just 3 days after the 4th reported case in the County. Health officials anticipate a substantial increase in cases nationwide during the next two weeks. Across Arizona, a total of 32,534 individuals have been tested, according to the most recent statistics available on www.AZDHS.gov. Of the 32,534 tests, 88 have been reported in Santa Cruz County. Testing is reported to the county health department, where the tested individual resides. Arizona is prioritizing testing for those with symptoms of COVID-19, and encouraging residents to recover at home, if possible.
The individual with the 4th reported case is recovering at home. To date, none of the 5 reported cases in Santa Cruz County have resulted in hospitalizations. The 5th reported case involved travel to an area with community spread, and the individual has not required hospitalization. In Arizona, the hospitalization rate per tested individuals is 19% with 437 reported COVID-19 hospitalizations. Sadly, 65 individuals in Arizona have passed away from COVID-19. There are no COVID-19 deaths reported in Santa Cruz County. The City Parks and Recreation Department is closing access and locking its tennis courts and baseball diamonds. The United States Tennis Association recommended limiting access, due to the potential for spread through the use of a shared tennis ball during play. City playgrounds, swings, and basketball courts were closed over the weekend. The City encourages active residents to take walks, while practicing social distancing.