49,798 confirmed cases, 1,338 known deaths
Arizona cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, now approach 49,800 cases with 1,338 known deaths, according to numbers released on Saturday by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Arizona’s total identified cases rose to 49,798 on Saturday, according to the most recent state figures. That’s an increase of 3,109 confirmed cases, or 6.6%, since Friday.
Inpatient hospitalizations for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 hit its highest number on Friday, with 1,938 hospitalizations, up from the previous high of 1,832 hospitalizations on Thursday. Emergency department visits for patients with suspected or confirmed positive COVID-19 also reached its highest level on Friday with 1,184 patients, surpassing the next highest of 1,109 patients on Wednesday.
Arizona’s sharp increases over the past two weeks, particularly the spikes in positive cases, have raised questions and alarm locally and nationally about whether the state has done enough to slow the spread and what other precautions may be necessary.
During the past two weeks, the state has reported higher daily increases in cases, deaths and hospitalization rates than any time previously. Ducey’s stayat-home order expired more than a month ago.
Some experts warn that Arizona is experiencing a spike in community spread, pointing to increases in the number of positive cases, the percent of positive tests out of total tests, and hospitalizations. But Ducey said concerns about hospitals was “misinformation” and that Arizona hospitals are doing fine.
Here’s what you need to know about Saturday’s new numbers.
Reported cases: 49,798 known cases
i Cases increased by 3,109, or 6.6%, from Friday’s 46,689 identified cases.
i 28,303 in Maricopa, 5,313 in Pima, 4,074 in Yuma, 2,984 in Navajo, 2,116 in Apache, 2,171 in Pinal, 1,490 in Coconino, 1,347 in Santa Cruz, 717 in Mohave, 436 in Yavapai, 268 in La Paz, 362 in Cochise, 143 in Gila, 61 in Graham and 13 in Greenlee, according to state numbers.
i The Navajo Nation reported 6,832 cases and 324 confirmed deaths as of Thursday. The Navajo Nation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
i The Arizona Department of Corrections said 318 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19. 2,831 inmates have been tested out of a population of 40,414.
i Laboratories have completed a total of 404,908 diagnostic tests for COVID-19, 9.8% of which have come back positive.
Reported deaths: 1,338 known deaths
i Deaths increased by 26 from Friday’s 1,312 known deaths.
i 633 in Maricopa, 242 in Pima, 90 in Coconino, 95 in Navajo, 72 in Mohave, 66 in Apache, 50 in Pinal, 55 in Yuma, 13 in Santa Cruz, seven in Yavapai, six in Cochise, three in Gila, three in La Paz and fewer than three in Graham and Greenlee.
i People aged 65 and older made up 1,007 of the 1,338 deaths, or 75%.
i While race/ethnicity is unknown for 9% of deaths, 46% of deaths were white, 18% were Native American, 20% were Hispanic or Latino and 3% were Black.
Hospitalizations still increasing
Inpatients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 hit a record high 1,938 on Friday, and a day after reaching another record with 1,832. This was the 19th consecutive day that hospitalizations statewide have eclipsed 1,000, the highest they’ve been since the state began reporting the data on April 8.
Ventilator use for suspected and confirmed positive COVID-19 patients also hit its highest number on Friday: 368 patients on ventilators, continuing a trend of high ventilator numbers for the past several weeks — especially high this week.
ICU bed use for suspected and confirmed positive COVID-19 patients hit 546 Friday, a new record. Friday was the 25th consecutive day that the number has been higher than 370 and the 12th consecutive day it has passed 400.
Emergency department visits for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 hit its highest on Friday with 1,184 patients, surpassing the next highest of 1,108 on Wednesday.
Patients with suspected or confirmed positive COVID-19 discharged from hospitals has exceeded 100 individuals discharged each day for the past two weeks. The highest day for COVID-19 patient discharge was April 17 with 242 patients discharged.