State reports 2,339 new cases; COVID hospitalizations decline

Hospital numbers continue gradual declines, but hospitals remain under stress as Arizona reported more than 2,300 new known COVID-19 cases and 46 new known deaths on Wednesday.

Inpatient hospitalizations, ICU beds in use and ventilators in use by suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients all continued gradual decreases on Tuesday, according to hospital data reported to the state. Emergency department visits by COVID-19 patients increased slightly from the day prior, but still are generally trending downward. But hospitals remain under high pressure, with many COVID-19 patients.

Identified cases rose to 168,273 and known deaths total 3,454, according to the daily report by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

The 46 additional known deaths reported on Wednesday represent the new deaths identified by the Arizona Department of Health Services that day, but many occurred days and weeks prior. Given slow test result turnaround times, new daily case often represent cases identified days and weeks prior.

Wednesday’s dashboard shows 83% of current inpatient beds and 85% of ICU beds were in use, which includes people being treated for COVID-19 and other patients. Overall, 48% of ventilators were in use.

Wednesday’s new numbers:

Reported cases: 168,273

Cases increased by 2,339, or 1.4%, from Tuesday’s 165,934 identified cases since the outbreak began.

County cases: 113,148 in Maricopa, 15,601 in Pima, 10,657 in Yuma, 7,720 in Pinal, 5,130 in Navajo, 2,950 in Apache, 2,903 in Coconino, 2,828 in Mohave, 2,543 in Santa Cruz, 1,661 in Yavapai, 1,442 in Cochise, 730 in Gila, 466 in La Paz, 442 in Graham and 52 in Greenlee, according to state numbers.

The state’s total case count includes individuals who tested positive on a diagnostic PCR test as well as individuals who tested positive on an antibody test who had COVID-19 symptoms or were linked to a known case. Of the cases, 99% are individuals with a positive diagnostic test, according to the state health department.

The rate of cases per 100,000 people is highest in Santa Cruz County, followed by Yuma, Navajo and Apache counties.

The Navajo Nation reported 8,927 cases and 446 confirmed deaths as of Tuesday. The Navajo Nation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

Reported deaths: 3,454

On Wednesday, 46 new deaths were reported, although many likely occurred on previous days or weeks.

County deaths: 1,915 in Maricopa, 431 in Pima, 230 in Yuma, 180 in Navajo, 145 in Mohave, 128 in Apache, 124 in Pinal, 114 in Coconino, 54 in Yavapai, 48 in Santa Cruz, 44 in Cochise, 24 in Gila, 10 in La Paz, six in Graham and fewer than three in Greenlee.

Hospitalizations continue decline

Inpatients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 tallied 2,424 on Tuesday, continuing a gradual plateau and decline over the past three weeks.

Hospitalizations have eclipsed 1,000 daily since June 1 and have had surpassed 3,000 daily for most of July until last week. Inpatient hospitalizations seem to be gradually decreasing.

ICU bed use for suspected and confirmed positive COVID-19 patients was at 800 beds in use on Tuesday, down from Monday’s 814 ICU beds in use. Occupied beds have seen slight decreases over the past two weeks. The number has been above 500 daily since June 15, with a relatively steady increase in the weeks since, until recently. Like inpatient beds, it is starting to gradually decrease.

Ventilator use for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients was at 561 on Tuesday, generally continuing what appears to be a 10 day-long gradual plateau or decrease. A record high 687 ventilators in use was hit July 16.