Live news on the COVID-19 pandemic



[ad_1]

to play

Arizona’s COVID-19 cases increased by 4,740 to a total of 1,016,663 as of Wednesday.

Sixty-seven new deaths have been reported, bringing the state’s total deaths to 18,853, according to data released by the state. Hospitalizations remained at high levels.

A “data processing glitch” resulted in much lower numbers on Tuesday (822 new cases) and higher numbers on Wednesday due to a catch-up, state health officials said. New cases have recently averaged over 3,000 per day.

Arizona’s seven-day death rate per 100,000 people ranked 23rd among states and territories on Tuesday, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Here is the last one:

Follow reporters from Republic and USA TODAY Network of the COVID-19 pandemic here.

4:10 p.m. Wednesday: State adds $ 60 million for hospital staff

Governor Doug Ducey announced $ 60 million to support hospital staff to bring 750 more nurses to Arizona for eight weeks.

Healthcare facilities are eligible for staff if they meet the conditions, including providing monoclonal antibody therapy to eligible patients across the system and offering COVID-19 vaccinations to patients upon discharge. .

Hospitals are using monoclonal antibodies as an early intervention in a bid to keep high-risk patients with COVID-19 out of hospital.

Arizona’s healthcare systems are in need of nurses and other people as staff run out and states compete for the workforce of contract nurses, driving up costs for nurses. hiring. Hospitals statewide continue to see a high number of COVID-19-related hospitalizations and patients filling beds for other reasons, straining existing staff resources.

“Arizona health professionals and all frontline workers are heroes, without a doubt,” Ducey said in a statement. “We are working to make sure they have the resources they need. This funding opportunity will reduce stress on existing hospital staff, increase hiring opportunities, and reduce the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalizations in Arizona. “

Monoclonal antibodies have recently received increased attention as the United States Food and Drug Administration revised its emergency use authorization for REGEN-VOC treatment and studies indicate the effectiveness of treatment in some cases.

Treatment can be used for patients at high risk of developing severe symptoms of COVID-19, including those who are 65 years of age and older, overweight, pregnant, or have chronic kidney or lung disease, diabetes, immunosuppressive disease, cardiovascular disease, or other conditions. The FDA also allows the drug to be used for certain people who have been exposed to COVID-19 and who are at high risk of poor results.

“Putting reasonable conditions such as the deployment of proven, peer-reviewed means to reduce hospitalizations makes perfect sense,” Christina Corieri, Ducey’s senior policy adviser, said during a media call on the conditions. eligibility for hospital staff.

This is the third time the state has allocated funds to support hospital staff during the pandemic, bringing the total to $ 145 million. The previous programs were in November and December 2020. At that time, the condition placed on hospitals to obtain staff was that they must participate in the state emergency line to coordinate the placement of COVID-19 patients, according to the governor’s office.

The $ 60 million for the additional nurses comes from the American Rescue Plan Act’s federal pool of dollars, Corieri said. The Arizona Department of Health Services receives the money and will contract nurses and assign them statewide to hospitals as needed.

– Alison Steinbach

Arizona’s COVID-19 cases rose on Wednesday by 4,740 to a total of 1,016,663. Sixty-seven new deaths were reported, bringing the state’s total deaths to 18,853, according to data released by the ‘State. Hospitalizations remained at high levels.

A “data processing problem” resulted in much lower numbers on Tuesday (822 new cases) and higher numbers on Wednesday due to a catch-up, state health officials said. New cases have recently averaged over 3,000 per day.

The state reported the total number of deaths in these counties: 10,815 in Maricopa; 2,507 to Pima; 950 in Pinal; 862 to Yuma; 850 in Mohave; 583 in Yavapai; 572 in Navajo; 452 in Apache; 341 in Coconino; 306 in Cochise; 248 in Gila; 185 in Santa Cruz; 89 to Graham; 81 in La Paz and 12 in Greenlee.

Arizona has reported the total number of cases in these counties: 643,584 in Maricopa; 127,751 in Pima; 63,233 in Pinal; 39,405 to Yuma; 28,465 in Mohave; 23,708 to Yavapai; 19,869 to Coconino; 18,586 in Navajo; 13,148 in Cochise; 12,449 in Apache; 8,500 in Santa Cruz; 8,246 in Gila; 6,294 to Graham; 2,693 in La Paz and 732 in Greenlee.

During most of May and June, Arizona’s percentage of positivity for COVID-19 tests was 5%, but it rose to 6% for the weeks of June 20 and June 27 and to 9 % for the week of July 4, depending on the state. It was 12% for the week of July 11, 13% for the week of July 18 and 14% for the week of July 25. It was 14% for the week of August 1, 12% for the week of August 8. , 11% for the week of August 15 and 11% for the week of August 22. It’s 13% so far for the week of August 29.

The number of patients hospitalized in Arizona with known or suspected cases of COVID-19 was 2,057 on Tuesday, the highest since February 14. The highest number of COVID-19 hospital patients in a day in Arizona was 5,082 on January 11.

The state reported that more than 4 million people in Arizona had received at least one dose of the vaccine as of Wednesday, representing about 56% of the total population.

However, less than half of all Arizonans – 47.9% – had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on Tuesday, which is lower than the national rate of 52.4%, according to CDC data.

Among eligible people aged 12 and older, 56.2% of eligible Arizonans had been fully vaccinated on Tuesday, lower than the national rate of 61.4%.

– Alison Steinbach

The Arizona Department of Education joined state health care leaders on Wednesday in calling for children to wear masks amid a continuing wave of COVID. At stake, they say, is this year’s face-to-face learning after the turmoil and uncertainty of last year.

“Due to decisions made by politicians, not public health experts, Arizona faces yet another deadly wave of COVID-19 fueled by the more contagious Delta variant,” said the Superintendent of Instruction public Kathy Hoffman, who has expressed support for a universal mask mandate.

“Without the ability to impose masks locally or a more robust and effective statewide campaign to promote and distribute COVID-19 vaccines, the academic, social and emotional well-being of students at the l ‘Arizona is in danger. “

The Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association have also joined in the call for students to wear masks in school.

Legislation passed this summer that prohibits school districts from requiring masks comes into effect on September 29. More than 14 school districts have implemented mask mandates since schools reopened this year.

– Go to Kunichoff

“I maintain universal masking”: Head of school on COVID-19, masks and test results

[ad_2]

Source link