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Arizona reported 1,281 new COVID-19 cases and 42 new known deaths on Friday, with a high number of new cases in part because of the inclusion of all positive results from antigen diagnostic tests dating back several months.
Hospitalization metrics such as patient counts and ventilators in use for COVID-19 have been trending downward for about nine weeks, with several metrics back to levels from early April, according to hospital data reported to the state.
Identified cases rose to 212,942 and known deaths totaled 5,451, according to the daily report by the Arizona Department of Health Services. The 42 new known deaths reported on Friday represent the new deaths identified by the state Health Department that day, but many occurred days and weeks prior.
The department is now including as probable cases anyone with a positive antigen test, another type of test to determine current infection. According to ADHS, 764 of the 1,281 cases reported Friday are from antigen tests dating back several months. As of Friday, probable cases made up 2% of the state’s 212,942 identified cases, according to the department.
Antigen tests (not related to antibody tests) are a newer type of COVID-19 diagnostic test that use a nasal swab or other fluid sample to test for current infection. Results are typically produced within 15 minutes.
Before Thursday and Friday’s larger case reports boosted by the addition of positive antigen tests, daily case reports have fluctuated between about 80 and 1,100 daily over the past three weeks.
Friday’s dashboard shows 80% of inpatient beds and 80% of ICU beds in use, which includes people being treated for COVID-19 and other patients. COVID-19 patients were using 7% of all inpatient beds and 8% of ICU beds. Overall, 26% of ventilators were in use.
The number of weekly tests conducted dropped significantly in July and into August, after which it’s remained flatter with slight decreases.
Of known test results from the past four weeks, 4-5% 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 5.8% and shows it has generally trended downward in recent weeks but is now at more of a plateau.
A positivity rate of 5% is considered a good benchmark that the spread of the disease is under control.
Here’s what you need to know about Friday’s new numbers.
Reported cases in Arizona: 212,942
- Cases increased by 1,281, or 0.61%, from Thursday’s 211,660 identified cases since the outbreak began. ADHS said 764 of the newly reported cases are antigen tests from several months ago.
- County cases: 139,245 in Maricopa, 24,313 in Pima, 12,498 in Yuma, 10,337 in Pinal, 5,740 in Navajo, 3,886 in Mohave, 3,738 in Coconino, 3,440 in Apache, 2,815 in Santa Cruz, 2,457 in Yavapai, 1,873 in Cochise, 1,217 in Gila, 787 in Graham, 534 in La Paz and 58 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 10,083 cases and 540 confirmed deaths as of Thursday. The Navajo Nation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
- The Arizona Department of Corrections said 2,555 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Thursday, including 967 in Tucson; 39,496 inmates have been tested; 45 test results are pending. Thirteen incarcerated people have been confirmed to have died of COVID-19, with 14 additional deaths under investigation.
- While race/ethnicity is unknown for 32% of cases, 31% of cases are Hispanic or Latino, 24% of cases are white, 6% are Native American, 3% are Black and 1% are Asian/Pacific Islander.
- Laboratories have completed 1,358,154 diagnostic tests for COVID-19, 11.6% of which have come back positive. That number now includes both PCR and antigen testing. The percentage of positive tests had increased since mid-May but began decreasing in July. It was around 4-5% for tests that have come back so far from the past four weeks, according to state numbers, which leave out data from labs that do not report electronically.
Reported deaths: 5,451 known deaths
- On Friday, 42 new deaths were reported, although many occurred days and weeks prior.
- County deaths: 3,245 in Maricopa, 613 in Pima, 342 in Yuma, 231 in Navajo, 222 in Mohave, 202 in Pinal, 161 in Apache, 133 in Coconino, 79 in Yavapai, 69 in Cochise, 62 in Santa Cruz, 51 in Gila, 24 in Graham, 15 in La Paz and fewer than three in Greenlee.
- People aged 65 and older made up 3,884 of the 5,451 deaths, or 71%.
- While race/ethnicity is unknown for 11% of deaths, 42% of those who died were white, 31% were Hispanic or Latino, 11% were Native American, 3% were Black and 1% were Asian/Pacific Islander.
Hospital metrics continue steady decline
- Inpatients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 were counted at 516 on Thursday, around the level of patients hospitalized in early April. Inpatient numbers have generally been trending downward for more than nine weeks. Hospitalizations surpassed 3,000 daily for much of July.
- ICU bed use for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients was at 130 beds in use on Thursday. ICU bed occupancy for COVID-19 patients is near its lowest level reported since early April. Occupied beds have seen gradual decreases for more than nine weeks.
- Ventilator use for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients was at 72 on Thursday, around the lowest it has been since hospitals began reporting the data in early April. Ventilator numbers have generally been declining for about nine weeks, after hitting a record high 687 ventilators in use on July 16.
- Emergency department visits for patients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 was at 854 on Thursday. With a few exceptions, daily ER visits are gradually trending downward. Daily ER visits first surpassed 1,000 on June 16 and were above that level nearly every day since, until daily ER visits dropped below 1,000 on Aug. 9. The number since then has hovered around or below 1,000.
- The number of patients with suspected and confirmed positive COVID-19 discharged from hospitals was at 145 patients discharged on Thursday. July saw relatively high discharge numbers, which generally have been decreasing since then.
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or at 602-444-4282. Follow her on Twitter @alisteinbach.
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