Arizona reports 994 new coronavirus cases
Arizona reported 994 new COVID-19 cases and five new known deaths on Thursday as new cases and hospitalizations continue gradual increases, but remain far below levels from the summer peak.
The past several weeks have seen relatively higher daily case reports as the virus spreads at its fastest rate in Arizona since June.
Identified cases rose to 234,906 and known deaths were at 5,859, according to the daily report from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
The number of patients hospitalized statewide for known or suspected COVID-19 cases was at 848 on Wednesday, up from 832 inpatients on Tuesday and 777 on Monday. Wednesday's 848 inpatients was the highest since Aug. 26.
The number of patients with suspected or known COVID-19 in intensive care units across Arizona was at 164 on Wednesday, down from 171 on Tuesday.
The number of Arizonans with confirmed and suspected COVID-19 on ventilators was at 92 on Wednesday, similar to the previous several days.
Thursday's dashboard shows 87% of inpatient beds and 84% of ICU beds in use, which includes people being treated for COVID-19 and other patients. COVID-19 patients were using 10% of all inpatient beds and 10% of ICU beds. Overall, 25% of ventilators were in use.
Reported cases
Cases increased by 994, or 0.42%, from Wednesday's 233,912 identified cases since the outbreak began.
Cases by county: 152,101 in Maricopa, 27,208 in Pima, 13,359 in Yuma, 11,583 in Pinal, 6,218 in Navajo, 4,888 in Coconino, 4,234 in Mohave, 3,825 in Apache, 2,967 in Santa Cruz, 2,841 in Yavapai, 2,093 in Cochise, 1,812 in Gila, 1,083 in Graham, 610 in La Paz and 84 in Greenlee, according to state numbers.
The Navajo Nation reported 11,030 cases and 574 confirmed deaths as of Wednesday. The Navajo Nation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
The Arizona Department of Corrections said 2,621 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Wednesday, including 992 in Tucson; 40,756 inmates statewide have been tested. A total of 733 prison staff members have self-reported testing positive, the state corrections department said. Eighteen incarcerated people in Arizona have been confirmed to have died of COVID-19, with 10 additional deaths under investigation.
Reported deaths
On Thursday, five new known deaths were reported.
County deaths: 3,536 in Maricopa, 635 in Pima, 353 in Yuma, 236 in Navajo, 230 in Mohave, 217 in Pinal, 168 in Apache,147 in Coconino, 87 in Yavapai, 73 in Cochise, 67 in Gila, 65 in Santa Cruz, 27 in Graham, 16 in La Paz and fewer than three in Greenlee.