600 new COVID-19 cases, 4 more deaths reported

Arizona reported a relatively low 619 new COVID-19 cases and four new known deaths on Friday, continuing downward trends for the virus’ spread and hospitalizations.

Inpatient hospitalizations, ICU beds in use, ventilators in use and ER visits for COVID-19 have all been on general downward trends over about the past five weeks, according to hospital data reported to the state.

Identified cases rose to 196,899 and known deaths totaled 4,688, according to the daily report by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

While metrics from daily case counts to infection and hospitalization rates are moving in the right direction, Gov. Doug Ducey told Arizonans it’s too soon to let their guard down and take a “victory lap.”

“Returning our kids to the classroom, reuniting with our loved ones — all of these depend on continued responsible behavior,” Ducey said Thursday. “I urge everyone to stay the course.”

Friday’s dashboard shows 83% of inpatient beds and 78% of ICU beds in use, which includes people being treated for COVID-19 and other patients. COVID-19 patients are using 13% of all inpatient beds and 22% of ICU beds. Overall, 30% of ventilators were in use.

Most people who get the disease are not hospitalized. The state does not report the number of recovered cases, although it does report hospital discharges.

Of known test results from last week, 6% have come back positive, according to the state, which has a unique way of calculating percent positivity. Johns Hopkins University calculates Arizona’s seven-day moving average of percent positives at 9.1% and shows it is trending downward.

More numbers of note

County cases: 131,166 in Maricopa, 20,173 in Pima, 12,009 in Yuma, 9,107 in Pinal, 5,489 in Navajo, 3,468 in Mohave, 3,283 in Apache, 3,222 in Coconino, 2,718 in Santa Cruz, 2,221 in Yavapai, 1,780 in Cochise, 1,060 in Gila, 651 in Graham, 495 in La Paz and 57 in Greenlee, according to state numbers.

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

The Navajo Nation reported 9,500 cases and 484 confirmed deaths as of Wednesday. The Navajo Nation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

County deaths: 2,743 in Maricopa, 532 in Pima, 299 in Yuma, 213 in Navajo, 192 in Mohave, 176 in Pinal, 145 in Apache, 121 in Coconino, 76 in Yavapai, 57 in Cochise, 55 in Santa Cruz, 42 in Gila, 22 in Graham, 13 in La Paz and fewer than three in Greenlee.