WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 23: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY), join members of Congress in observing a moment of silence on the steps of the United States Capitol on February 23, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress leaders held a candlelight ceremony to mark the more than 500,000 deaths in the United States due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Al Drago / Getty Images)
This is a periodically updated story with the latest information on coronavirus and its impact in Arizona and beyond February 24, 2021.
PHOENIX – Arizona officials reported 1,310 new coronavirus cases and an additional 43 deaths from COVID-19 on Wednesday.
The state’s documented total was upgraded to 811,968 coronavirus infections and 15,693 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services ’COVID-19 board.
After rising to a record high in early January, the number of cases and hospitalizations has dropped to levels prior to Thanksgiving in Arizona.
The number of hospitalized patients confirmed or suspected of COVID-19 in state hospitals fell to 1,449 on Tuesday, the lowest since Nov. 12. The number of ICU beds used by patients with COVID-19 decreased to 430, the lowest since November 17.
Arizona’s weekly positive percentage for diagnostic tests for COVID-19, an indicator of how widespread the virus is in the community, has been declining since the beginning of the year.
Of the 81,434 people tested last week, 9% got a positive result, the same as the previous week, which was the lowest score since October. So far this week, the positive rate is 8% across 9,881 people tested.
Official positivity rates are based on when samples are taken, not when they are reported, so the percentage in recent weeks may fluctuate as labs catch up on testing. and the state documents the results.
The seven-day average of recently registered state health department coronavirus cases stood at the past week and was 1,559.71 for Tuesday, according to The Associated Press.
The seven-day average of recently reported deaths rose to 112 this Tuesday, the highest since Feb. 15.
In Tuesday’s update of U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Arizona was the sixth in the nation for per capita deaths from COVID-19 in the past seven days and the 14th in cases. Arizona led the United States in both categories twice in January.
Daily updates from the Arizona Department of Health present case, death, and test data after the state receives and confirms statistics, which can be delayed several days or more. They do not represent the actual activity during the last 24 hours.
Hospitalization data released each morning is reported electronically the previous evening to hospitals across the state, as required by executive order.
COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, has no impact on some people and is severely debilitating or deadly to others. Asymptomatic infected people, which include, among other things, cough, fever, and difficulty breathing, are able to spread the virus.
Diagnostic tests are available at hundreds of sites across Arizona and should be looked for by anyone with symptoms or who may have been exposed to an infected person. Information on locations, times, and registration can be found on the Department of Health Services website.
For statewide vaccine availability information, the ADHS website has a vaccine search page with a location map and registration information.
Below are the latest news from Wednesday on the coronavirus pandemic across the state, the country and the world:
- Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman said Wednesday schools can reopen safely if they strictly follow the mitigation strategies described.
- The Navajo nation reported 25 new cases of coronavirus and caused no additional deaths, accounting for a documented total of 29,602 infections, including one reported delayed case, and 1,152 fatalities.
- The pending Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will be much easier to deploy than previous versions, said Arizona health expert Dr. Will Humble. The Mike Broomhead Show on KTAR News 92.3 FM, and not just to make it a complete shot.
- Apache County became the first Arizona county to move to Phase 1C of COVID-19 vaccinations, adding to its list of eligible populations adults with high-risk medical conditions and adults who they live in congregated care settings. Unvaccinated adults in phases 1A and 1B are also eligible in northeastern Arizona county.
- Eight CVS stores in Arizona, including five in the Phoenix subway, are now taking reservations for COVID-19 vaccines for eligible populations.
- The Arizona Department of Health Services reported that 1,552,911 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the state, a daily increase of 43,074, with 1,114,425 people receiving at least one shot.
- Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine protects against COVID-19, according to an analysis by U.S. regulators that lays the groundwork for a final decision on a new, easier-to-use trait to help tame the pandemic.
- Globally, there were approximately 112.23 million cases of COVID-19 and 2.49 million deaths as of Wednesday morning, according to research from Johns Hopkins University. U.S. figures were about 28.26 million cases and 502,000 deaths.