Arizona hospitalizations for COVID-19 still high, but declining gradually

Arizona reported more than 3,300 new COVID-19 cases and 79 more known deaths on Friday as hospital numbers continue gradual improvements but remain high.

Inpatient hospitalizations, ICU beds in use, ventilators in use and emergency department visits by suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients all appear to be continuing general declines from last week, according to hospital data reported to the state. But hospitals remain under high pressure, with many COVID-19 patients.

Identified cases rose to 156,301 and known deaths total 3,142, according to the daily report by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Friday's dashboard shows 84% 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.

During the past three weeks, cases increased by 75% and tests increased by 47%. Of known test results from last week, 15% have come back positive. A high percentage of positive tests means there is not enough broad testing and the virus is widespread.

Turnaround on test results is still slow. Sonora Quest Laboratories, which processes the majority of the state's tests, is backlogged and reporting results in nine to 12 days. Priority samples from hospitals are processed within 24 hours, according to a spokeswoman. State officials said on Thursday that with new equipment, Sonora Quest will clear up its 60,000-test backlog by July 31.

Cases increased by 3,349, or 2.2%, from Thursday's 152,944 identified cases since the outbreak began.

At the county level there were 104,613 caes in Maricopa, 14,428 in Pima, 9,930 in Yuma, 7,214 in Pinal, 5,028 in Navajo, 2,870 in Apache, 2,821 in Coconino, 2,602 in Mohave, 2,452 in Santa Cruz, 1,522 in Yavapai, 1,319 in Cochise, 644 in Gila, 457 in La Paz, 353 in Graham and 40 in Greenlee, according to state numbers.

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

Deaths rose to 1,718 in Maricopa, 409 in Pima, 209 in Yuma, 165 in Navajo, 130 in Mohave, 117 in Apache, 114 in Pinal, 110 in Coconino, 50 in Yavapai, 46 in Santa Cruz, 38 in Cochise, 21 in Gila, nine in La Paz, five in Graham and fewer than three in Greenlee.

The Navajo Nation reported 8,734 cases and 432 confirmed deaths as of Thursday. The Navajo Nation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.