Delay in reporting results in big jump in new virus cases

The number of COVID-19 cases reported Tuesday looks like a new record, but is because of a delay in reporting on Monday, according to statistics released on Tuesday by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

The department reported 4,682 new cases on Tuesday, bringing total cases to 79,215. There were 44 new deaths reported Tuesday.

The large increase Tuesday came after the state reported just 625 new cases Monday, compared with the 1,000 to 3,000 new daily cases that have been seen in the past few weeks.

Hospitalizations and ICU usage by COVID-19 patients rose on Monday to their highest reported levels since the pandemic began in March. The number of ventilators in use declined slightly and the number of COVID-19 patients seen in the emergency room increased slightly, but was below the highest days.

Sonora Quest, a major test processor, said Monday it had a technical glitch reporting numbers on Sunday because of an increased number of test results. The lab reported 2,454 additional cases, which would bring the state’s Monday total to 3,079. Those cases will be added to the state’s data dashboard on Tuesday morning.

Tuesday’s dashboard shows 85% of current inpatient beds and 86% of ICU beds were in use.

On Monday, the state health department officially activated crisis standards of care, which will, among other things, protect hospitals from legal liability for triaging patients, according to a set of guidelines that take into account a person’s likelihood of survival, the extent of their sickness and other factors.

Gov. Doug Ducey, after not instituting new restrictions in the past few weeks despite cases and hospitalizations increasing, put a “pause” on bars, gyms, theaters, water parks and tubing starting Tuesday until July 27.

“Arizonans have been, by and large, terrific, fantastic and responsible,” Ducey, a Republican, said at a Monday news conference. “But we have found some situations in categories where we need to take more aggressive actions, and that’s what we’re going to do today.”

The governor’s new executive order also prohibits organized gatherings of 50 or more people.

He also announced that reopening of schools would be pushed back to at least Aug. 17.

Several hospitals initiated surge plans on Friday.

Hospital discharge numbers over the past five days have hovered around their highest levels since the state began reporting the data in early April. There were 232 people with COVID-19 discharged on Monday. There were between 250 and 270 suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals daily from Thursday to Sunday, although total hospital numbers are much higher now.

Ducey on Monday repeatedly urged Arizonans to stay home, saying they were safer there.

Reported cases in Arizona: 79,215

Cases increased by 4,682, or 6.3%, from Monday’s 74,533 identified cases since the outbreak began. Again, this increase is higher than expected because it comprises two days worth of positive tests due to a technical issue.

County cases: 48,592 in Maricopa, 8,004 in Pima, 6,212 in Yuma, 3,625 in Navajo, 3,574 in Pinal, 2,337 in Apache, 1,885 in Coconino, 1,771 in Santa Cruz, 1,071 in Mohave, 781 in Yavapai, 614 in Cochise, 342 in La Paz, 292 in Gila, 96 in Graham and 18 in Greenlee, according to state numbers.

Reported deaths: 1,632

After no deaths were reported Monday, 44 new deaths were reported Tuesday.

County deaths: 771 in Maricopa, 273 in Pima, 125 in Navajo, 92 in Coconino, 86 in Apache, 85 in Mohave, 81 in Yuma, 67 in Pinal, 22 in Santa Cruz, nine in Yavapai, eight in Cochise, five in Gila, five in La Paz and fewer than three in Graham and Greenlee.

Hospitalizations at high level

Inpatients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 tallied 2,793 statewide on Monday. Hospitalizations have eclipsed 1,000 daily since June 1 and surpassed 2,000 for the past week.

Ventilator use for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients was at 455 on Monday.