Arizona coronavirus cases surpass 500, with 9 known deaths

Confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, topped 500 on Thursday, with nine known deaths, according to state data.

Identified cases now total 508 across the state. Maricopa County has just shy of 300 cases.

The level of community spread, as listed on the state health department’s website, went from moderate to “widespread.” Community spread means the patient had no history of traveling to regions of the world affected by new coronavirus, and also had no known contact with anyone infected by it.

The number of identified cases increased by 107 cases, or nearly 27%, from Wednesday to Thursday.

Four known deaths have occurred in Maricopa County, according to county data, as well as two in Coconino County and two in Pima County.

The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation announced Thursday afternoon that a man who recently died tested positive for COVID-19 after his death. He was 49 years old and had underlying health problems, according to a press release from the tribe.

The man who died is not a citizen of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.

“He lived and had a job with the reservation, but he was not a tribal member,” said John Fedyna, acting director for the Wassaja Memorial Health Center.

Fedyna said the man visited the clinic with symptoms and was transferred to a hospital in Scottsdale for treatment. It was there that he was tested on March 18 and the results did not return until Thursday.

Individuals who were in close contact with the man are under self-quarantine and do not currently have COVID-19 symptoms, according to the release.

This is the first positive COVID-19 test reported by the tribe, but there have been no reports of positive cases among the tribal citizens.

On Wednesday, state numbers showed 401 identified cases and six known deaths. La Paz and Mohave counties reported their first cases, meaning they now will be following state orders to close bars, gyms and theaters and limit restaurants.

At a Wednesday press conference, state Health Director Dr. Cara Christ said that if infections continue at their current pace, illnesses would peak in April and hospitalizations would peak in May.

“Arizona is still in the opening stages of its COVID-19 outbreak, and the number of cases within the state will increase significantly,” Christ said.

Numbers don’t show full picture

The number of cases is likely much higher than official numbers suggest. People have reported trouble getting tested, as health professionals confront confusion over who to test and a lack of supplies.

The state health department’s publicly reported numbers only provide positive test results from private labs, not the total number of people tested, leaving the online data incomplete.

The state has seen over 6,600 Arizonans get tested, most of which have been done by private labs, Christ said at Wednesday’s briefing. The state’s lab has run 403 tests.

About 95% of tests have come back negative, she said, while 4.6% have come back positive, Christ said.

Testing is limited to people in highrisk groups and those showing symptoms. The state also is prioritizing health care and “critical infrastructure” workers.

“At this time, there’s simply just not enough tests for everyone who wants one,” Christ said.

Counties see rising numbers

A majority of Arizona’s identified cases were in Maricopa County, with a total of 299 Thursday, according to data on the state health department’s website.

The cases per-capita were higher in Navajo County than any other county as of Wednesday, data compiled by The Arizona Republic shows.