FILE: In this December 17, 2020 file photo, syringes prepared for the COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are seen at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Island. (Photo AP / Nam Y. Huh)
This is a periodically updated story with the latest information on coronavirus and its impact in Arizona and beyond December 22, 2020.
PHOENIX – Arizona health officials reported 5,859 new coronavirus cases and an additional 153 deaths on Tuesday.
It was the second-highest report of one-day pandemic deaths, just behind 172 on July 30, and the fifth time in seven days with three digits.
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, the state’s documented totals increased to 467,215 COVID-19 infections and 8,125 deaths.
Daily reports present data on cases, deaths and evidence after the state receives and confirms statistics, which can be delayed for several days or more. They do not represent the actual activity during the last 24 hours.
Multiple metric COVID-19s in Arizona remain at or near pandemic highs.
The number of patients hospitalized at COVID-19 Hospital confirmed or suspected in Arizona rose to a record 4,019 on Monday, surpassing the mark set on Friday.
The number of patients with COVID-19 in state ICU beds was up to 943, the second most recorded in history, with only the 970 figure on July 13th.
Patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 statewide occupied 47% of all hospital beds, matching an all-time high and 53% of all ICU beds.
Overall, 91% of hospital beds were filled, as were ICU beds.
Arizona’s weekly positive percentage for diagnostic tests for COVID-19, an indicator of how widespread the virus is in the community, also shows signs of leveling.
Through 153,468 tests last week, the positivity rate was 18%, coinciding with the rate of the previous two weeks.
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 results are documented by the state.
Hospitalization data released each morning is reported electronically the night before by 100 hospitals across the state, as required by executive order.
The seven-day average of new health department cases was 5871 on Monday, according to The Associated Press, nearly 2,000 below the peak reached a week earlier and the mark since Dec. 8.
The average of seven days of deaths for COVID-19 recently reported has tripled more this month and is just below the 94 pandemic record set on July 31st. The average weekly death toll on Monday was 87.71 for the second day in a row, the fourth highest ever.
COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, has no impact on some people and is severely debilitating or deadly to others. Infected people without symptoms (which include, among others, cough, fever, and difficulty breathing) are able to spread the virus.
Information about test sites can be found on the Arizona Department of Health Services website.
Below are the latest developments in the coronavirus pandemic across the state, the country and the world:
- Globally, there were about 77.53 million cases of COVID-19 and 1.7 million deaths as of Tuesday morning, according to research from Johns Hopkins University. U.S. figures were about 18.04 million cases and 319,000 dead.