PHOENIX – Arizona’s most populous county warns of a significant increase in cases of flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory illnesses.

The Maricopa County Public Health Department issued an alert Friday that cases of these viruses, including the respiratory syncytial virus known as RSV, are higher than normal for this time of year.

Influenza is now classified as “widespread” within the county. The infection of COVID-19 also belongs to the high category.

Officials are pushing for more crowds, especially during the holiday season, to ensure that anyone over the age of 6 months is vaccinated against flu and COVID-19.

They also encourage indoor mask wearing in public places.

Dr. Nick Stave, a medical epidemiologist at the department, said he was worried about how many cases would occur before people started traveling on Christmas. He says the medical system is strained.

Symptoms of the three viruses include fever, cough, sore throat, and runny or stuffy nose.

1 employee killed, 1 injured in shooting at Phoenix drive-thru

PHOENIX (AP) – Phoenix police have arrested a suspect in a drive-thru shooting that killed a fast food restaurant employee and injured another.

Authorities announced Friday that 29-year-old Christopher Candia was incarcerated in a Maricopa County jail on multiple charges, including murder.

A fight broke out Thursday night between the suspect and two employees who work at a Jack in the Box drive-thru in West Phoenix, investigators said. Kandia allegedly opened fire on the restaurant multiple times.

A 22-year-old female employee was shot. Her injuries are not life threatening. The second victim, her 19-year-old Jorge Valenzuela Ramirez, did not survive.

Kandia turned himself in, police said.

They continue to investigate the events that led to the shooting.