Arizona on Thursday reported more than 5,400 known coronavirus cases — one of the state’s highest daily case reports since the pandemic began — and the most fatalities listed in a single day since August.
The state Department of Health Services announced 5,442 additional confirmed cases as the virus continues to surge and 82 deaths. The deaths include 46 resulting from reviews of past death certificates. Department spokeswoman Holly Poynter said most of those deaths occurred “recently” but did not immediately respond to a quest for specifics.
However, the pace of COVID-19-related deaths reported in Arizona has increased by 57% in the past two weeks.
The daily case total surpasses a previous high of 4,878 cases reported back on July 1. Arizona health officials could not say whether the more than 5,000 cases were due to a lag in testing and reporting over the Thanksgiving holiday week. Public health experts believe those were factors in Tuesday’s staggering report of 10,322 new confirmed cases.
The number of white, non-Hispanic people infected now outnumbers Latino or Hispanic people who got COVID-19, according to state health officials. The state dashboard shows 101,834 cases under white, non-Hispanic, and 101,148 cases under Latino or Hispanic. The last time that occurred was in June during a summer surge, according to ABC15.com.
According to Johns Hopkins University data analyzed by The Associated Press, the seven-day rolling average of daily deaths in the state increased from 19.6 on Nov. 18 to 30.7 on Wednesday.
Reported daily deaths topped 100 on three days in August, including 104 reported on Aug. 26.
According to the state’s coronavirus dashboard, Arizona has reported totals of 346,421 known cases and 6,821 deaths.
Coronavirus-related hospitalizations across Arizona totaled 2,743 on Wednesday, up from 2,699 on Tuesday and including 642 patients in intensive care unit beds.
Hospital officials and public health experts have warned that the outbreak is on track to exceed the capacity of the state’s health care system this month unless more action is taken to curb the spread of the virus.
Republican Gov. Doug Ducey has acknowledged the growing outbreak but declined to take several steps sought by advocates, including a statewide mask mandate. The governor has urged everyone to wear masks and called for better enforcement of existing restrictions on certain businesses and gatherings.
The seven-day rolling average for daily new cases in the state rose in the past two weeks from 2,563 on Nov. 18 to 4,304 on Wednesday, according to data from The COVID Tracking Project.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
