The City of Tempe’s January 2022 reports that COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Maricopa County, fueled by the highly contagious Omicron variant. In early January, more than 17,000 new cases were reported several days in a row, breaking previous daily records.
COVID-19 testing has also ramped up this month, with more than 325,000 tests administered so far in January alone. A new report from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) shows that people who are not fully vaccinated are 31.1 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those who have been vaccinated. Though vaccinated individuals can catch and spread COVID-19, the study also shows those who are not are 4.9 times more likely to contract the virus.
The City continues to offer free vaccination clinics to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Upcoming clinics include:
- Saturday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Wood Elementary
- Sunday, Jan. 16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Fuller Elementary
As a reminder, anyone ages 12+ can now receive a Pfizer booster. No registration or insurance is required. Find more clinics and vaccine locations at tempe.gov/coronavirus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its vaccine booster guidelines last week to recommend the Moderna booster at five months instead of six. The Pfizer booster is also recommended at five months.
