In order to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Yuma County, Arizona Board of Supervisors has approved an emergency declaration to protect county residents.
Yuma County has officially issued a declaration of emergency over COVID-19. Yuma County Supervisor Board Chairman Tony Reyes says board members approved the declaration this morning. Reyes says the Board’s decision was made as a proactive reaction to a serious public health threat.
"We’re trying to get ahead of this to be able to assure the public that the county and the department, the health department of the county, and every employee of the county is ready to take care of our residents, of our public," Reyes said Friday. "And we want to make sure, if need be, and actions need to be taken that are drastic, we’ll be able to do that."
Diana Gomez, director of the Yuma County Public Health Services District, assured the public that even though an emergency declaration has been made, there is no reason for anyone to panic.
"As of this moment, and it’s a rapidly evolving situation, there is no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Yuma County," Gomez said. "When we become aware of a confirmed case we will notify the public."
Gomez added that at this time there are also no “presumed cases” of COVID-19. She said a presumed case is when someone is believed to be showing symptoms of the virus, but test results have not yet confirmed it.
Gomez says that as testing becomes readily available, more cases will be discovered. She says that does not mean there is more disease in the county, but rather that more people infected are being discovered.
Officials reiterated that the best thing people can do to protect themselves is to wash their hands often and stay away from situations where they can be exposed.
For questions about COVID-19, the Arizona State COVID-19 Information Hotline is toll-free 24 hours a day. The number is 1-844-542-8201.
