Ariz. reports 2nd-largest daily COVID-19 death toll
Arizona reported more than 3,700 new COVID-19 cases and 144 more known deaths on Saturday.
Inpatient hospitalizations continued their general declines Friday, according to the latest daily report by the Arizona Department of Health Services. But ventilator and ICU bed use was up from Thursday, according to hospital data reported to the state.
The state’s total number of identified cases during the pandemic rose to 160,041 and known deaths total 3,286.
The 144 additional known deaths reported on Saturday represents the second largest daily death total announced by the state. (On July 18, the daily data reported 147 known deaths.)
Saturday’s dashboard shows 84% of current inpatient beds and 86% of ICU beds were in use, which includes people being treated for COVID-19 and other patients.
Overall, 48% of ventilators were in use.
The state recently announced efforts to expand testing. During the past three weeks, cases increased by 75% and tests increased by 47%. Of known test results from last week, 15% have come back positive. A high percentage of positive tests means there is not enough broad testing and the virus is widespread.
Cases reported Saturday increased by 3,748, or 2.4%, from Friday’s 156,301 identified cases since the outbreak began.
At the county level there were 107,291 cases in Maricopa, 14,800 in Pima, 10,138 in Yuma, 7,378 in Pinal, 5,049 in Navajo, 2,908 in Apache, 2,849 in Coconino, 2,681 in Mohave, 2,495 in Santa Cruz, 1,539 in Yavapai, 1,363 in Cochise, 686 in Gila, 462 in La Paz, 362 in Graham and 40 in Greenlee.
The rate of cases per 100,000 people is highest in Santa Cruz County, followed by Navajo, Yuma and Apache counties.
Deaths rose to 1,793 in Maricopa, 417 in Pima, 220 in Yuma, 177 in Navajo, 134 in Mohave, 128 in Apache, 122 in Pinal, 112 in Coconino, 54 in Yavapai, 49 in Santa Cruz, 43 in Cochise, 21 in Gila, nine in La Paz, six in Graham and fewer than three in Greenlee.
The Navajo Nation reported 8,768 cases and 434 confirmed deaths as of Friday. The Navajo Nation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.