Arizona surpasses 3,000 deaths from COVID-19

Arizona reported more than 3,000 total known COVID-19 deaths on Thursday as case and hospital numbers continue to improve but remain very high.

Inpatient hospitalizations, ICU beds in use, ventilators in use and emergency department visits by suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients all appear to be continuing general declines from last week, according to hospital data reported to the state. But hospitals remain under high pressure, with many COVID-19 patients.

Identified cases rose to 152,944 and known deaths total 3,063, according to the daily report by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

The 89 additional known deaths reported on Thursday represent the new deaths identified by the Health Department that day, but many occurred days and weeks prior.

Public health experts have begun to notice signs Arizona's COVID-19 outbreak may be moderating, but more time is needed to know for sure. In the meantime, they suggest that interventions like gym and bar closures and limits on social gatherings should continue.

Thursday's dashboard shows 85% of current inpatient beds and 87% of ICU beds were in use, which includes people being treated for COVID-19 and other patients. Overall, 51% of ventilators were in use.

Cases increased by 2,335, or 1.6%, from Wednesday's 150,609 identified cases since the outbreak began.

At the county level, there were 102,247 cases in Maricopa, 14,143 in Pima, 9,794 in Yuma, 6,974 in Pinal, 4,992 in Navajo, 2,841 in Apache, 2,778 in Coconino, 2,525 in Mohave, 2,424 in Santa Cruz, 1,478 in Yavapai, 1,311 in Cochise, 622 in Gila, 448 in La Paz, 328 in Graham and 39 in Greenlee, according to state numbers.

Deaths rose to 1,651 in Maricopa, 405 in Pima, 210 in Yuma, 165 in Navajo, 129 in Mohave, 117 in Apache, 114 in Pinal, 110 in Coconino, 51 in Yavapai, 44 in Santa Cruz, 31 in Cochise, 21 in Gila, nine in La Paz, five in Graham and fewer than three in Greenlee.

The Navajo Nation reported 8,684 cases and 431 deaths as of Wednesday.