Arizona coronavirus update: 686 deaths; 14,170 known cases
Arizona cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, now approach 14,200 with 686 known deaths, according to numbers released on Monday by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Arizona’s total identified cases rose to 14,170 on Monday, according to the most recent state figures. That’s an increase of 233 confirmed cases, or 1.7%, since Sunday when the state reported 13,937 identified cases and 680 deaths.
The number of confirmed cases reported each day has risen steadily over the past week as more testing is done.
Deaths have also spiked over the several week, although many occurred in previous weeks and are just being added to the system now because of reporting lags and a new death certificate surveillance process. The number of deaths reported each day represents the additional known deaths identified by the Health Department that day, but they are often not identified on the actual death date and could have occurred weeks prior.
According to the department’s data, the dates with the most deaths in a single day so far are April 19, April 20, April 23 and April 30 with 22 deaths each.
Maricopa County’s confirmed cases exceed 7,300, according to state numbers.
The number of Arizona cases likely is higher than official numbers because of limits on supplies and available tests. The state announced April 23 that anyone who believes they could be infected can now get tested.
The latest Arizona data
As of Monday morning, the state reported death totals from these counties: 324 in Maricopa, 157 in Pima, 65 in Coconino, 48 in Navajo, 31 in Pinal, 28 in Mohave, 20 in Apache, five in Yavapai and four in Yuma.
La Paz County and Gila County officials reported two deaths each, although the state site listed the two counties and Cochise County as just having fewer than three deaths. Greenlee, Graham and Santa Cruz counties each reported no deaths.
According to Monday’s state update, Pima County reported 1,825 identified cases. Navajo County reported 1,285 cases, while Apache County reported 988, Coconino County reported 901, Pinal County reported 702, Yuma County reported 405, Yavapai County reported 267 and Mohave County reported 251.
Santa Cruz County reported 78 cases, Cochise County reported 46, La Paz County reported 38, Gila County reported 22, Graham County reported 20 and Greenlee County reported two, according to state numbers.
The Navajo Nation reported an additional 90 cases for a total of 4,002 and 140 confirmed deaths as of Sunday evening. The Navajo Nation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
The Navajo Nation has issued an emergency order requiring all individuals to wear masks in public and enforced its sixth 57-hour curfew this past weekend in order to slow the spread.
136 cases in Arizona prisons
The Arizona Department of Corrections’ online dashboard said 136 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Friday. The cases are at these six facilities: 65 in Florence, 35 in Yuma, 21 in Tucson, nine in Marana, five in Eyman and one in Perryville.
The department had tested 533 inmates, with 361 negative cases and 36 pending out of a total population of 41,248.
Six inmate deaths are under investigation, with one death at Florence determined to be directly or indirectly the result of COVID-19. Five other deaths, four at Florence and one at Tucson, are preliminarily attributed to COVID-19. Twenty-eight inmates have recovered.
Sixty-four staff members have selfreported positive for the virus, and 39 have been certified as recovered, the department said.
Both legal and nonlegal visitations have been suspended through June 13, at which point the department will reassess. Temporary video visitation will be available to approved visitors and inmates who have visitation privileges, the department announced. Inmates are eligible for one 15-minute video visit per week. CenturyLink also is giving inmates two additional 15-minute calls for free during each week visitation is restricted.