1,465 sick with COVID-19; 18 more die in Arizona

Hospitalizations continue gradual declines from their mid-July peaks, as Arizona reported another 1,465 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday and 18 more known deaths.

Inpatient hospitalizations, ICU beds in use and ventilators in use all continued gradual downward trends on Saturday, according to hospital data reported to the state. But hospitals remain under high pressure, with many COVID-19 patients.

Identified cases rose to 178,467 and known deaths totaled 3,765, according to the daily report by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

The 18 new known deaths reported Sunday 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 reported cases often represent cases that occurred days and weeks prior.

Sunday’s dashboard shows 83% of inpatient beds and 85% of ICU beds in use, which includes people being treated for COVID-19 and other patients. Overall, 42% of ventilators were in use.

Here’s what you need to know about Sunday’s new numbers.

Reported cases in Arizona: 178,467

Cases increased by 1,465, or 0.83%, from Saturday’s 177,002 identified cases since the outbreak began.

County cases: 120,279 in Maricopa, 16,655 in Pima, 11,142 in Yuma, 8,227 in Pinal, 5,271 in Navajo, 3,064 in Apache, 2,990 in Coconino, 3,027 in

Mohave, 2,608 in Santa Cruz, 1,818 in Yavapai, 1,536 in Cochise, 833 in Gila, 473 in La Paz, 489 in Graham and 55 in Greenlee, according to state numbers.

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

The Navajo Nation had reported 9,068 cases and 460 confirmed deaths as of Saturday. The Navajo Nation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

iiReported deaths: 3,765 known

On Sunday, 18 new deaths were reported, although many likely occurred on previous days or weeks.

County deaths: 2,101 in Maricopa, 462 in Pima, 259 in Yuma, 188 in Navajo, 153 in Mohave, 141 in Pinal, 136 in Apache, 115 in Coconino, 61 in Yavapai, 50 in Santa Cruz, 49 in Cochise, 29 in Gila, 10 in La Paz, nine in Graham and fewer than three in Greenlee.

iiHospitalizations continue declining

Inpatients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 tallied 2,147 on Saturday, continuing a gradual plateau and decline over three weeks. Hospitalizations have eclipsed 1,000 daily since June 1 and had surpassed 3,000 daily for most of July until last week.

ICU bed use for suspected and confirmed positive COVID-19 patients was at 685 in use Saturday, down from Friday’s 710 in use. Prior to Wednesday, the metric had not dropped below 800 beds in use since July 3.

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