Arizona reports over 3,600 new COVID-19 cases, 117 more deaths

Arizona reported another 3,653 COVID-19 cases and 117 more known deaths on Tuesday as the state continues to see record high numbers for COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Identified cases rose to 105,094 and known deaths total 1,927, according to the daily report by the Arizona Department of Health Services. The state does not report the number of recovered cases, though it does report hospital discharges.

The 117 new deaths reported on Tuesday is the highest number of deaths reported so far. However, the number of deaths reported each day represents the additional known deaths reported by the Health Department that day, but deaths could have occurred weeks prior and on different days.

On Monday, known cases of COVID-19 in Arizona passed 100,000 for the first time, just over five months since the first case was identified in Maricopa County in late January and just over two weeks since the case count passed 50,000.

Tuesday’s dashboard shows 82% of current inpatient beds and 90% of ICU beds were in use, which includes people being treated for COVID-19 and other patients. Most people who get the disease are not hospitalized.

While increased testing over the past month has contributed to an increase in known cases, it is only one factor resulting in the big increase in case numbers. The percentage of tests coming back positive has spiked sharply since midMay, indicating a significant increase in community spread.

During the past three weeks, cases increased by 169% and tests increased by just 77%. Of known test results from last week, 22% have come back positive.

Reported cases in Arizona: 105,094

Cases increased by 3,653, or 3.6%, from Monday’s 101,441 identified cases since the outbreak began.

County cases: 67,543 in Maricopa, 10,184 in Pima, 7,599 in Yuma, 4,792 in Pinal, 4,015 in Navajo, 2,471 in Apache, 2,237 in Coconino, 2,048 in Santa Cruz, 1,448 in Mohave, 969 in Yavapai, 855 in Cochise, 374 in La Paz, 361 in Gila, 172 in Graham and 26 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 counties.

The Navajo Nation reported 7,914 cases and 378 confirmed deaths as of Monday. The Navajo Nation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

The Arizona Department of Corrections said 475 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Monday; 3,960 inmates have been tested out of a population of nearly 40,000. Four incarcerated people have been confirmed to have died of COVID-19, with nine additional deaths under investigation.

While race/ethnicity is unknown for 51% 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 628,275 diagnostic tests for COVID-19, 13.6% of which have come back positive. The percent of positive tests has increased in the past month. It was 22% for tests that have come back so far from last week.

1,927 known deaths

On Tuesday, 117 new deaths were reported, although most occurred days or weeks prior.

County deaths: 933 in Maricopa, 302 in Pima, 134 in Navajo, 117 in Yuma, 99 in Apache, 97 in Coconino, 93 in Mohave, 81 in Pinal, 27 in Santa Cruz, 17 in Cochise, 11 in Yavapai, seven in La Paz, six in Gila and fewer than three in Graham and Greenlee.

People aged 65 and older made up 1,411 of the 1,927 deaths, or 73%.

While race/ethnicity is unknown for 15% of deaths, 41% of those who died were white, 22% were Hispanic or Latino, 16% were Native American and 3% were Black.

Hospitalizations hit new highs

Inpatients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 tallied a record 3,356 statewide on Monday. Hospitalizations have eclipsed 1,000 daily since June 1 and surpassed 2,000 for the past two weeks.

Ventilator use for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients was at 544 on Monday, the highest number so far. Overall, 49% of ventilators remained available on Monday.

ICU bed use for suspected and confirmed positive COVID-19 patients was at 869 on Monday, the highest number so far.