YAVAPAI COUNTY, Ariz. — Yavapai County announced Monday morning that 128 people in the county have now tested positive for the coronavirus and the increase in cases is due to testing at Mingus Mountain Academy (MMA), an alternative all-girls high school outside of Prescott Valley.
The high school, which describes itself as a "joint commission accredited residential treatment center for emotionally and behaviorally at-risk adolescent girls," released the following statement to the county:
"At Mingus Mountain Academy, we have continued to take steps to mitigate the risks of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Unfortunately, despite those efforts, we are currently addressing a cluster of cases on our campus. We are grateful that thus far no one is showing any severe symptoms of the disease. However, we are monitoring the situation closely, and students and staff with positive test results are currently in isolation and receiving the best care possible. We wish them all a speedy recovery.
"As always, the health and safety of our students and employees remains our top priority. We are very appreciative of the support of our county public health officials and continue to follow all public health and CDC guidance for COVID-19. Our program is following a stringent screening process for all individuals on our campus to confirm no one else is showing potential symptoms of this virus. We also continue to keep our referral partners informed and are committed to taking whatever steps necessary to prevent further spread of this virus at Mingus."
The number of people at MMA who have tested positive has not been released.
Yavapai County Community Health Services and the Emergency Operations Center are working with MMA to give out personal protective equipment, coordinate more testing and decide what steps need to be taken next.
12 News has reached out to MMA and their parent company, Sequel Youth & Family Services, for comment.
Yavapai County says that 2,632 people in the county have been tested for COVID-19, and 128 of those tests have come back positive. The county says 11 people have recovered from the virus and two have died.
Verde Valley Medical Center says there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in their facility, but, as of Sunday afternoon, five people are under observation.
Yavapai Regional Medical Center says two people have been hospitalized there due to COVID-19. Six people are under observation at the hospital's west campus, and five people are under observation at the east campus.
No one has been hospitalized or is under observation at the Yavapai County VA.
More information on COVID-19 in Yavapai County can be found here.