San Carlos Apache Tribe nearly halts spread of coronavirus

Health officials, community members go door-to-door promoting COVID-19 vaccine in Arizona

Community members are working with AZDHS officials to go door to door in outreach efforts that also aim to combat misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine.

PERIDOT, Ariz. - The San Carlos Apache Tribe has experienced a dramatic turnaround in coronavirus cases, nearly halting the spread.

About one-third of the population on the southeastern Arizona reservation had been infected over the past year. Now, the average number of positive COVID-19 cases is down to less than 1% a week.

The San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corp. and tribal officials attribute the numbers to early education campaigns, an emergency declaration, safety precautions and collaboration.

The tribe has also vaccinated its population at a quicker rate than the state of Arizona with no need for mass vaccination events.

MORE: Find COVID-19 vaccine locations in your area

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Continuing coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic:

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In order to protect yourself from a possible infection, the CDC recommends:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Monitor your health daily

Symptoms for coronavirus COVID-19 include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. These, of course, are similar to the common cold and flu.

Expect a common cold to start out with a sore or scratchy throat, cough, runny and/or stuffy nose. Flu symptoms are more intense and usually come on suddenly, and can include a high fever.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear more slowly. They usually include fever, a dry cough and noticeable shortness of breath, according to the World Health Organization. A minority of cases develop pneumonia, and the disease is especially worrisome for the elderly and those with other medical problems such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes or heart conditions.

To protect yourself, wash your hands well and often, keep them away from your face, and avoid crowds and standing close to people.

And if you do find yourself showing any of these flu or coronavirus symptoms - don't go straight to your doctor's office. That just risks making more people sick, officials urge. Call ahead, and ask if you need to be seen and where.