ARIZONA NEWS

Pima County health director gets COVID-19 amid department outbreak

Dec 16, 2020, 11:29 AM

Pima County Health Department Dr. Theresa Cullen (Pima County Photo)...

Pima County Health Department Dr. Theresa Cullen (Pima County Photo)

(Pima County Photo)

PHOENIX — Pima County said Wednesday that its health department is experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak, with the Tucson-area agency’s leader among those infected.

Dr. Theresa Cullen, director of the Pima County Health Department, tested positive for the coronavirus Tuesday, the county said in a press release.

The county said the health department outbreak involves 11 employees.

“This just goes to prove that when there is substantial community spread of the virus like we’re experiencing now throughout the county, the virus can get into your homes and places of work any number of ways no matter how vigilant you are being with your precautions,” Dr. Francisco Garcia, the county’s chief medical officer, said in the release.

The county said it is offering testing to all staff who work at the health department’s headquarters.

Employees are being moved to other locations or working from home while the affected parts of the building are sanitized, according to the release.

“The effects of this outbreak at the health department will be a significant challenge, but it is one we are able to handle,” Garcia said.

“We have redundant capacity in staffing and facilities, and this will not affect our ability to continue to our mission protecting public health or the health department’s vital role in the struggle to control and end the spread of COVID-19 in Pima County.”

A county administrator reported this week that 300 employees have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since February, more than 60 of them in the past two weeks, according to the release.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Construction zones on metro Phoenix freeways...

Kevin Stone

Closures scheduled for parts of US 60, I-17 and Loop 202 this weekend

Halloween is in the rear-view mirror, but freeway construction zones could cause nightmares for Valley drivers this weekend.

46 minutes ago

AZ Political Podcast...

Jim Sharpe

AZ Political Podcast: Chuck Coughlin predicts the 2024 election in Arizona

Chuck Coughlin joins this episode of AZ Political Podcast and discusses the surprises of the election season and makes some predictions.

1 hour ago

Rain phoenix weekend forecast...

Kevin Stone

Cold front expected to bring rain to Valley this weekend, but not a downpour

The Valley could see rain this weekend, but if you're hoping for widespread showers you'll probably be disappointed.

3 hours ago

Arizona polling presidential senate races...

Kevin Stone

New Arizona polling shows presidential tossup, with Senate race getting tighter

Arizona polling conducted the week before Election Day shows the presidential race as a tossup and the U.S. Senate race getting tighter.

4 hours ago

Donald Trump Liz Cheney...

Associated Press

During interview in Arizona, Donald Trump calls Liz Cheney ‘war hawk’ and ‘deranged’

At an event in Arizona with Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump was asked whether it is strange to see Liz Cheney campaign against him.

6 hours ago

Follow @kstonezone...

Sponsored Content by Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

Why a Heating Tune-Up is Essential Before Winter

PHOENIX, AZ — With cooler weather on the horizon, making sure your heating system is prepped and ready can make all the difference in staying comfortable this winter.

Sponsored Articles

...

DISC Desert Institute for Spine Care

The best methods to make your back pain disappear for good

Are you struggling with back pain that will not go away?

...

Midwestern University

Midwestern University Clinics – Providing Comprehensive, Thorough and Unrushed Healthcare to the Valley Community

With so many options for healthcare in the Valley, why should you choose a clinic that has graduate medical students integrated into the patient experience?

...

Bright Wealth Management

Here’s how to save money on retirement planning

PHOENIX -- With inflation still going on, people planning on retiring still face many issues on when they can retire and how much money they need to achieve it.

Pima County health director gets COVID-19 amid department outbreak