PHOENIX — New state data gives a lot more information about testing and who’s most at risk from the disease in Arizona.
The data shows the number of cases rising, but not at the same rate seen elsewhere in Italy or China.
A ZIP code map shows urban areas and ZIP codes near Native American reservations as the areas hardest hit by the outbreak in Arizona.
The data reinforces the contention that older men are most at risk of dying from the disease.
“We are part of this response. Every viewer watching this is part of the response,” said Will Humble, former state health department director and current executive director for the Arizona Public Health Association.
“I really didn’t see a lot of hot spots and cool spots in the Valley,” Humble said.
The data shows people between the ages of 20 to 44 have the most cases, with 1,360 people diagnosed with the virus.
However, those over 65 are accounting for most of the deaths. In all, those older than 65 are accounting for more than 68% of all deaths from COVID-19.
There is also a gender split in the number of deaths.
Despite more women being diagnosed with the virus, men account for 62% of the deaths in the state.
“We know for sure this virus goes after people with preexisting conditions like hypertension, high blood pressure, and diabetes and some of those things are more common in males,” Humble said.
The data does show hope that social distancing is working to flatten the curve.
Arizona currently has enough hospital beds and ventilators for those who need them.
National modeling projects that if Arizona stays the course and continues to practice social distancing, Arizona will continue to have the needed resources for COVID-19 patients.
“This social distancing is working; you can see it in the data,” Humble said.
There are still limitations to the data.
We know a lot of people were unable to get tested and the state says that race and ethnicity for most cases is “unknown.”
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