Record highs for ICU bed and ventilator use
Arizona reported 3,536 new COVID-19 cases and four additional deaths on Sunday, according to data from the Arizona Department of Health Services. The number of COVID-19 patients using ICU beds again broke records Saturday, as did the number of ventilators in use. Arizona is among the worst hot spots in the nation for COVID-19. The disease is widespread here, and health officials caution people to stay home as much as possible and wear masks in public.
Vice President Mike Pence, who visited Arizona on Wednesday, said he is deploying hundreds of medical personnel to assist the state.
Identified cases total 98,089 and known deaths are at 1,809. It's unknown how many of these cases are currently sick or asymptomatic.
On Thursday morning, the Department of Health Services posted a public service announcement on Twitter featuring department director Dr. Cara Christ, showing how to properly wear and care for a cloth face mask.
On Wednesday, 4,878 new cases and 88 additional deaths were reported by the Arizona Department of Health Services, a high mark for the pandemic so far.
Reported cases in Arizona: 98,089
• Cases increased by 3,536 to 98,089 identified cases since the outbreak began.
• County cases: 62,296 in Maricopa, 9,621 in Pima, 7,332 in Yuma, 4,391 in Pinal, 3,883 in Navajo, 2,439 in Apache, 2,164 in Coconino, 1,981 in Santa Cruz, 1,384 in Mohave, 929 in Yavapai, 791 in Cochise, 363 in La Paz, 354 in Gila, 140 in Graham and 21 in Greenlee, according to state numbers.
• The rate of cases per 100,000 people is highest in Santa Cruz County, followed by Navajo, Apache and Yuma.
• The Navajo Nation reported 7,733 cases and 375 confirmed deaths as of Wednesday. The Navajo Nation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
• The Arizona Department of Corrections said 457 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Thursday; 3,819 inmates have been tested out of a population of more than 40,000. Four incarcerated people have been confirmed to have died of COVID-19.
• While race/ethnicity is unknown for 50% of cases, 23% of cases are Hispanic or Latino, 15% of cases are white, 7% are Native American and 2% are Black.
• Laboratories have completed 603,884 diagnostic tests for COVID-19, 13.1% of which have come back positive.
Reported deaths: 1,809 known deaths
• On Sunday, four new deaths were reported. This comes after 31 new deaths were reported Friday and 37 new deaths were reported Thursday.
• County deaths: 883 in Maricopa, 282 in Pima, 133 in Navajo, 98 in Yuma, 96 in Coconino, 92 in Apache, 88 in Mohave, 75 in Pinal, 24 in Santa Cruz, 14 in Cochise, 10 in Yavapai, six in Gila, five in La Paz and fewer than three in Graham and Greenlee.
• People aged 65 and older made up 1,321 of the 1,809 deaths, or 73%.
• While race/ethnicity is unknown for 14% of deaths, 42% of those who died were white, 22% were Hispanic or Latino, 16% were Native American and 3% were Black.
Hospitalizations hover at high levels
• Inpatients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 tallied 3,182 statewide on Saturday — a new record. 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 531 on Saturday, a new record. Overall, 51% of ventilators remained available Saturday.
• ICU bed use for suspected and confirmed positive COVID-19 patients was 821 on Saturday, the highest number so far. The number has been above 500 daily since June 15.