Together We Thrive*
COVID-19 Resource Center
Learn about staying healthy through COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases
This is the fifth year of COVID-19 (coronavirus). It first appeared in Wuhan, China in December 2019. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease (attacks primarily the lungs). It spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets (coughs, sneezes, and talks) and contaminated surfaces or objects. The virus is also known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first case of COVID-19 appeared in Arizona on January 22, 2020.
On February 8, 2023, the world has passed the 670 million COVID-19 cases and 6.85 million deaths associated with the virus. The U.S. has the highest numbers of cases (102+ million) and deaths (1.1+ million) in the world. About 1/3 of Arizona population has had COVID-19. In Pima County, more than 30.6 percent of the residents have had the virus.
The Together We Thrive (TWT) goal is to increase the capability of the Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI’s) in dealing with COVID-19 and other respiratory infections in Pima County. The 16-month project was funded by the Pima County Health Department (October 5, 2022 to January 31, 2024).
There will be bimonthly updates posted on the second and fourth week of the month until the end of March 2024. The updates include Arizona and Pima County hospital admissions level trends (an indicator of severe COVID-19 cases) and state and county weekly cases trends. This website identifies COVID-19 resources and where to go for services and support. The journal articles and TWT newsletters provides historical documentation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even though the World Health Organization declared that the COVID-19 global public health emergency is over on May 5, 2023 and the Biden Administration declared the (COVID-19 public health emergency is over in the United States on May 11, 2023, COVID-19 is still with us (see bimonthly updates).
*Project funded by a Pima County Health Department grant.
Together We Thrive (TWT) Final Report
The TWT project goal was to increase the capability of the AAPI’s in dealing with COVID-19 and other respiratory infections in Pima County. During the 16-month project, there were 6 newsletters published, 3 vaccination clinics offered, a COVID-19 resource center website established, COVID-19 information tables at six community events, an AAPI community COVID-19 survey conducted, 3 social classes offered, 3 mental health panel presentations, and 4 community COVID-19 presentations given. The project had reached 9,642 people and had provided 13,398 health education/promotion contacts.
Take the AAPI Community COVID-19 Survey
There was little published information available about the COVID-19 impact on the AAPI populations and the communities’ needs in Pima County. The Together We Thrive project conducted a needs assessment in 2023. The assessment survey results assist the project in producing strategies and activities that address the needs.
Health Tips
Chronic stress is not healthy. There are ways to reduce your stress levels. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. Do not be overcommitted – say no more often. Take time to do nothing, walk, or look out the window 5-10 minute break after completing a major stressful task.
Bimonthly Arizona and Pima County COVID-19 Trends
Our March 28 Update:
The CDC U.S. COVID-19 county numbers of hospitalization per 100,000 population are shown in Figures 1 and 2. All 15 Arizona counties hospital admission levels were low for the week ending on March 23.
The Arizona COVID-19 weekly case number trends are shown in Figure 3. The state case number had increased from the previous week, and the numbers of hospitalizations and deaths remained low for the week of March 27 (see Table 1). For the past four weeks, the case numbers have been declining in Pima County (see Table 2).
Source: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view?list_select_state=all_states&list_select_county=all_counties&data-type=CommunityLevels&null=CommunityLevels
Calendar of TWT Events
TWT Events ended January 31, 2024 (see blog for past event photos.)
Vaccine Information
Initially, there were four COVID-19 vaccines available. They were Pfizer/BioNTech Comirnaty, Moderna Spikevax, Johnson & Johnson Jcovden, and Novavax Nuvaxivud.
Testing Information
There are two types of COVID-19 tests: diagnostic and antibody. Diagnostic test shows if you are infected with the virus. Antibody test shows if you have the antibody for COVID-19.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests comparison: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/covid-19-test-basics.
Test sites include, but not limited to, health department clinics, community health centers, urgency care, pharmacies, and laboratories.
Then there were three vaccine boosters: Pfizer /BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax.
Later followed by the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna new bivalent COVID-19 vaccines include both the original virus and Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants and Novava booster.
Currently, there are three 2023-24 approved monovalent vaccines (Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax – Omicron variant XBB.1.5). The previous COVID-19 vaccines are no longer available.
Vaccination clinics include, but not limited to, health department clinics, community health centers, and pharmacies.
Ask a COVID-19 Question
A member of our team will get back to you and/or add your question to our published FAQ.