For the latest information on county confirmed cases, patients recovered and zip code data go to PRT’s Daily Updates
April 30, 2020: Arizona Testing Blitz Starting this weekend, May 2
The Arizona Testing Blitz aims to test 10,000-20,000 Arizonans for COVID-19 every Saturday for three consecutive weeks, beginning Saturday, May 2, 2020. As of now there are no testing sites in Santa Cruz county.
As part of the Arizona Testing Blitz, drive-through or onsite testing will be available at various locations across the state. Arizonans can find the nearest testing location and hours of operation as well as pre-register by visiting azhealth.gov/TestingBlitz. Testing will be available to anyone who thinks they have been exposed to and could be infected with COVID-19 and will be based on criteria set by each testing site.
April 22, 2020: 28th Case Confirmed in Santa Cruz County
April 22, 2020: 24-27th Case Confirmed in Santa Cruz County
Please take adequate precautions if you leave your home and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
The state zip code data shows an increase in Rio Rico zip code to 18 confirmed cases. Nogales zip code remains at 6-10 cases as does Patagonia’s zip code remains at 1-5 cases.
April 20, 2020: State Health Dept launches new website, data shows that Nogales zipcode 85621 has increased to 6-10 confirmed cases and Rio Rico zip code 85648 has increased to 11 confirmed cases. https://www.azdhs.gov/
April 20, 2020: 20-23rd Case Confirmed in Santa Cruz County
April 19, 2020: 17th, 18th and 19th Case Confirmed in Santa Cruz County
April 16, 2020: 15th & 16th Case Confirmed in Santa Cruz County
April 16, 2020: PRT April Mid Month Update – https://mailchi.mp/73e274837a95/aprilmidmonth-9255834
As of April 16, 2020, 1 p.m. there are 14 confirmed cases in the county. Based on the data released by Arizona Dept. of Health Services on April 16 there have been 1-5 cases reported from Nogales zip code, 1-5 cases from Patagonia zip code, and 6-10 cases reported from 85648 zip code which includes Rio Rico, Rio Rico Northeast and Tumacaceri-Carmen. This data is available and updated at the Arizona Dept. of Health website.
There have been a total of 129 tests in the county thus far. The SC county Dept. of Health reports that of the 14 positive cases seven have recovered and have been removed from isolation. None of the positive cases thus far have had to be hospitalized. Lastly, the local Mariposa clinic in Patagonia is conducting Covid-19 tests now though the criteria to receive a test remains strict.
April 15, 2020: State Releases more Data on COVID-19 Patients
“Today we added data to our COVID-19 dashboard that includes additional information about cases and deaths, as well as information about the health of our healthcare system in Arizona. The dashboard now has case counts broken down by zip code and more detailed demographic information about cases and deaths in our state. Data about the capacity of our healthcare system in Arizona has also been added to the dashboard.”
April 15, 2020: 14th Case Confirmed in Santa Cruz County
April 15, 2020: 13th Case Confirmed in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County Health Services has received notification of another confirmed case of COVID-19. Bringing the total confirmed case count in Santa Cruz County to thirteen (13) cases.
At this time Santa Cruz County has identified evidence of community transmission. Please take adequate precautions if you leave your home and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
April 14, 2020: 11th & 12th Case Confirmed in Santa Cruz County
At this time Santa Cruz County has identified evidence of community transmission. Please take adequate precautions if you leave your home and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
April 14, 2020: Community Transmission Present In Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County Health Services has received notification of another confirmed case of COVID-19. Bringing the total confirmed case count in Santa Cruz County to twelve (12) cases.
At this time Santa Cruz County has identified evidence of community transmission. This is significant because according to the CDC, “community spread means some people have been infected and it is not known how or where they became exposed…People in places where ongoing community spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been reported are at elevated risk of exposure, with the level of risk dependent on the location.”
Please continue to adhere to the recommendations of social distancing, hand-washing and wearing a cloth mask.
April 14, 2020: The PRT has received confirmation from the Santa Cruz County Health Services that there was one confirmed positive case in the 85624 zip code area. “That case has fully recovered. There are currently no positive cases within the 85624 zip code,” said Shelly Jacobs the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator.
The PRT advises locals to continue to adhere to the county, state, federal recommendations on strict social distancing, washing hands, and wearing a cloth mask.
Due to lack of testing in our county and CDC confirming that people can spread the virus without having any symptoms it is important we do not see this update as a reason to stop keeping the strict measures in place. No place is safe from the global pandemic but our choices can keep us and the community safe. The PRT will continue to follow this story.
April 13, 2020: Tenth Confirmed Case in SCC county
Santa Cruz County Health Services has received notification of a tenth (10th) confirmed case of COVID-19. Bringing the total confirmed case count in Santa Cruz County to ten (10) cases.
At this time Santa Cruz County has identified evidence of community transmission. Please take adequate precautions if you leave your home and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
April 12, 2020: The State Releases Data on COVID-19 Cases by Zip Code
According to the data on this map Patagonia has 1-5 confirmed cases, Sonoita has 0, Elgin 0. Nogales & Rio Rico also have 1-5 confirmed cases. Please note: If a patient’s address of residence is unknown cases were mapped to the address of the provider followed by the address of the reporting facility.
April 12, 2020: 9th Confirmed Case o COVID-19 in SCC County
At this time Santa Cruz County has identified evidence of community transmission. Please take adequate precautions if you leave your home and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
April 10, 2020: 8th Confirmed Case o COVID-19 in SCC County
April 10, 2020: Seventh Confirmed Case o COVID-19 in SCC County
April 10, 2020: County / State Still Not Divulging Location of COVID Patients in SCC Despite New Executive Order
April 9, 2020: Arizona Receives Approval For Online SNAP Purchases From USDA
April 8, 2020: 6th confirmed case in Santa Cruz County.
April 7, 2020 New executive order by Gov. Ducey increases restrictions on certain out of state travelers
April 6, 2020: Fifth Confirmed case in Santa Cruz County
April 3, 2020 Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings, Especially in Areas of Significant Community-Based Transmission
“It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus. CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.”
April 3, 2020: Governor Doug Ducey announces barbershops, hair, nail & tanning salons, tattoo parlors, spas and massage parlors must close by 5 p.m. tomorrow. In addition amenities at public parks that do not allow for recommended physical distancing or proper hygiene such as basketball courts, splash pads, playgrounds and public restrooms but public parks shall remain open to the greatest extent possible. Communal pools such as those at hotels, condominiums, apartment complexes and parks, however, these should still be maintained under environmental and public health rules and guidelines. Swap meets. Read more: https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2020/04/additional-guidance-essential-services
April 3, 2020 Fourth Confirmed Case in SCC County
March 31, 2020 Third Confirmed Case in SCC County
List of Open businesses in Santa Cruz County during Covid-19
March 26, 2020: Jeff Terrell, Director of Environmental Health Services said that there are three locations in the county with test kits available. Mariposa Community Health Center, Holy Cross Hospital and Nextcare Urgent Care. The county is looking for more tests and there is a nationwide shortage. They are planning to set up a drive through testing site, as has been done in other cities around the country, but there is no timeline for when it will be ready. In the meantime, he said, everyone should be practicing the recommendations of washing hands, wiping areas more frequently and social distancing.
March 25,2020 Second confirmed case in SC County
Santa Cruz County Health Services has received notification of a second (2nd) confirmed case of COVID-19. Santa Cruz County Health Services is currently investigating to identify any close contacts that may have been exposed while the person was infectious. Any individuals who may have been identified as having been exposed will be contacted directly. These individuals will receive recommendation to self-isolate and self-monitor for any fever and respiratory symptoms per CDC guidelines. The case brings the total number of confirmed cases in Santa Cruz County to two (2).
March 24, 2020 March 24, 2020: Gov. Doug Ducey Issues a Proclamation Prohibiting the Closure of Essential Services during the COVID-19 Response. Read the Proclamation here.
March 20, 2020 Santa Cruz County Declares State of Emergency
March 21, 2020 County launches webpage for Coronavirus
March 21, 2020 COVID-19 Hotline
- A COVID-19 hotline has been set up to answer any questions from the public and healthcare providers about testing, symptoms, and any other questions you have about the virus.
- Call 1-844-542-8201 to reach a health care professional.
March 20, 2020 Governer Ducey announces public school closures extended until April 10
March 20, 2020
Updates from the County
By Marion Vendituoli
Results from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to confirm the one presumptive positive case of coronavirus in Santa Cruz County should be available by the next meeting of the Santa Cruz County (SCC) Board of Supervisors on Monday, March 23, according to District 3 Supervisor Bruce Bracker. If, as suspected, the case is confirmed, the Board will likely vote to declare a countywide state of emergency, which could mandate the closing of restaurants and bars, except for take-out orders, as well as the closing of movie theatres and gyms.
Bracker also pointed out that small business disaster loans are now available in all counties in the state. Previously, he said, this was only available to the northern counties of Arizona. Bracker recommended that residents visit www.santacruzcountyaz.gov for information related to the county’s response to the coronavirus crisis.
Executive actions taken by Gov. Doug Ducey, as of March 19, also include the halting of all elective surgeries in order to free up medical resources, and the delaying of expiration dates on AZ driver licenses for all residents over the age of 65, so that this more vulnerable population will not need to visit the DMV during this crisis.
Ducey has also called up the National Guard to help in the distribution of food from warehouses to food stores and to food banks. “Across the board, the food chain supply has been challenged,” said Ray Sayre, Director of Emergency Management for Santa Cruz County. He pointed out that there is no shortage of food items in the warehouse, but that empty shelves at local stores are due to people buying more than they need. “There’s no reason to buy 1000 roles of toilet paper,” he said. “Buy what you need.”
He also said that, due to the shutting the border, which will go into effect Saturday morning, many residents of Sonora have been flooding stores in Nogales to stock up.
Sayer emphasized that rumors that the National Guard was being deployed to establish martial law are false rumors being spread on social media. “We’re getting swamped by rumors and fake sites,” he said. He urged readers to only visit trusted sites for coronavirus information, as fake websites are popping up that contain computer viruses. He recommended the Arizona Emergency Information Network, which can be found at www.ein.az.gov, and to follow the CDC website, www.cdc.gov.
The Border between the US-Mexico will close for all non-essential travel. This will go in effect on Saturday March 21st. This does not affect lawful trade. Essential travel includes individuals traveling for medical purposes, attending school or engaged in trade. As of now the CDC has called for a complete ban of all people trying to cross the border without proper documentations. Migrants will be immediately returned to Mexico or other countries.
March 20, 2020: Santa Cruz County Health Services Director Jeff Terrell confirmed that there is one presumptive positive case of coronavirus in Santa Cruz County. On the advice of the County Attorney, they are not releasing information about the location or residence of the patient, but he did confirm that the patient is a resident of Santa Cruz County. There are no other presumptive or confirmed cases in the county at this time.
Note: “According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), a presumptive positive result is when a patient has tested positive by a local public health laboratory, but results are still pending confirmation at a CDC lab.”
March 19, 2020 First Case of Coronavirus in Santa Cruz County – Read more
The Arizona Poison Control System is available to answer questions about COVID-19 from Arizona providers (for testing, patient guidance) and the general public (for testing, isolation, quarantine): 1-844-542-8201