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WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 23: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stand join other members of Congress for a moment of silence on the steps of the U.S. Capitol February 23, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congressional leaders held a candlelight ceremony to mark the more than 500,000 U.S. deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Al Drago / Getty Images)
This is a regularly updated story with the latest information on the coronavirus and its impact in Arizona and beyond for February 24, 2021.
PHOENIX – Arizona officials on Wednesday reported 1,310 new coronavirus cases and 43 more deaths from COVID-19.
The state’s documented totals have been updated to 811,968 coronavirus infections and 15,693 deaths, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard.
After reaching record highs in the first part of January, the number of cases and hospitalizations fell to pre-Thanksgiving levels in Arizona.
The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 hospital patients in state hospitals declined to 1,449 on Tuesday, the least since November 12. The number of intensive care beds used by COVID-19 patients has fallen to 430, the least since November 17.
Arizona’s weekly percentage of positivity for diagnostic testing for COVID-19, an indicator of the virus’s spread in the community, has been declining since the start of the year.
Of the 81,434 people tested last week, 9% tested positive, the same as the week before, the lowest score since October. So far this week, the positive rate is 8% out of 9,881 people tested.
Official positivity rates are based on when samples are taken, not when they are reported, so the percentage over the past few weeks may fluctuate as labs catch up with testing and results. are state-documented.
The seven-day average of new coronavirus cases reported by the state’s health department leveled off over the past week and was 1,559.71 on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press tracking.
The seven-day average of newly reported deaths rebounded to 112 for Tuesday, the highest since February 15.
In Tuesday’s update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Arizona was sixth in the country in COVID-19 deaths per capita in the past seven days and 14th in cases. Arizona sometimes led the United States in both categories in January.
Daily updates from the Arizona Department of Health showcase data on cases, deaths, and testing after the state receives and confirms statistics, which can take several days or more. They do not represent actual activity over the past 24 hours.
Hospitalization data released each morning is reported electronically the night before by hospitals across the state, as required by the executive order.
COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has no impact on some people and is severely disabling or fatal for others. People who are infected without symptoms – which include, but are not limited to, cough, fever, and difficulty breathing – are able to spread the virus.
Diagnostic tests are available in hundreds of places across Arizona and should be researched 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 more information on vaccine availability statewide, the ADHS website has a vaccine search page with a map of locations and registration information.
Below are Wednesday’s latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic statewide, nationwide, and globally:
- Arizona Superintendent of Public Education Kathy Hoffman said Wednesday’s schools can safely reopen if they strictly follow the mitigation strategies outlined.
- The Navajo Nation has reported 25 new cases of coronavirus and no additional deaths, bringing the documented totals to 29,602 infections – including one reported deferred case – and 1,152 deaths.
- The pending Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will be much easier to deploy than previous versions, said Arizona health expert Dr Will Humble. KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show, and not just because it’s a one-time hit.
- Apache County became the first Arizona county to transition to Phase 1C of COVID-19 vaccinations, adding to its list of eligible populations adults with high-risk health conditions and adults living in collective care establishments. 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 vaccinations for eligible populations.
- The Arizona Department of Health Services reported that 1,552,911 doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the state, a daily increase of 43,074, with 1,114,425 people having received at least one vaccine.
- Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine protects against COVID-19, according to analysis by U.S. regulators that is setting the stage for a final decision on a new, easier-to-use vaccine to help tame the pandemic.
- Globally, there were an estimated 112.23 million cases of COVID-19 and 2.49 million deaths as of Wednesday morning, according to research from Johns Hopkins University. The figures for the United States were around 28.26 million cases and 502,000 deaths.
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