16,039 confirmed cases; 799 known deaths

Arizona cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, now exceed 16,000 with 799 known deaths, according to numbers released on Saturday by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Arizona’s total identified cases rose to 16,039 on Saturday, with 799 known deaths, according to the most recent state figures.

That’s an increase of 431 confirmed cases, or 2.76%, since Friday.

The number of confirmed cases reported each day has risen steadily over the past weeks as more testing has taken place.

Reported daily death numbers have spiked throughout the past several weeks, 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.

The dates with the most deaths in a single day so far are April 30 and May 8 with 24 deaths each, followed by April 23 with 23 deaths. Next come April 19, April 20 and May 5 with 22 deaths on each of those days, according to Saturday data, which is likely to change in the days ahead as more deaths are identified.

Maricopa County has 8,177 confirmed cases, 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 he or she could be infected can now get tested.

The latest Arizona data

As of Saturday morning, the state reported death totals from these counties: 383 in Maricopa, 173 in Pima, 72 in Coconino, 56 in Navajo, 37 in Pinal, 34 in Mohave, 25 in Apache, eight in Yuma and six in Yavapai.

La Paz County and Gila County officials reported two deaths each and Cochise County reported one death, although the state site listed the three counties as just having fewer than three deaths. Greenlee, Graham and Santa Cruz counties each reported no deaths.

Overall, Arizona has 223.1 cases and 11.11 deaths per 100,000 residents, according to state data.

The scope of the outbreak differs by county. Maricopa County has 187.2 cases and 8.77 deaths per 100,000 residents, and Pima has 191.6 cases and 16.56 deaths per 100,000 residents.

Coconino has 679 cases and 48.89 deaths per 100,000 residents, and Navajo

has 1,321.5 cases and 49.63 deaths per 100,000 residents.

Cases rise in other counties

According to Saturday’s state update, Pima County reported 2,002 identified cases. Navajo County reported 1,491 cases, while Apache County reported 1,144, Coconino County reported 1,000, Pinal County reported 751, Yuma County reported 590, Mohave County reported 303 and Yavapai County reported 284.

Santa Cruz County reported 143 cases, Cochise County reported 58, La Paz County reported 49, Gila County reported 23, Graham County reported 21 and Greenlee County reported three, according to state numbers.

The Navajo Nation dashboard reported a total of 4,434 and 147 confirmed deaths as of Friday evening. The Navajo Nation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.