PHOENIX — In an effort to track the changes with the coronavirus outbreak in Arizona, 12 News has started a daily live blog.
Here is the live blog for Friday, Nov. 20.
Major updates:
- There have been 291,696 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 6,427 coronavirus-related deaths reported in Arizona as of Friday.
- The state does not record how many people have recovered, but Johns Hopkins University estimates the number of people who have recovered.
- You can find COVID-19 testing sites here.
- Scroll down to see how many cases are in each ZIP code and additional information.
- No more visitors at Banner Health locations.
RELATED: 412% increase in cases and 4 more graphs showing how COVID-19 metrics are rising in the last 6 weeks
COVID-19 cases reported in Arizona on Friday
There have been 291,696 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 6,427 coronavirus-related deaths reported in Arizona, according to the state's latest numbers.
That's an increase from the 287,225 confirmed cases and 6,384 coronavirus-related deaths reported on Thursday.
A week ago, there were 269,577 cases and 6,257 deaths reported in Arizona.
LEER EN ESPANOL: Coronavirus en Arizona el 20 de noviembre: 4,471 casos nuevos y 43 decesos se reportan el viernes
4,471 new cases, 43 new deaths reported Friday
The Arizona Department of Health Services reported 4,471 new cases and 43 new deaths on Friday.
Friday was the second day in a row that more than 4,000 new cases were reported in Arizona. It was also the second-highest number of new daily cases ever reported in Arizona, after 4,877 new cases were reported on July 1.
COVID-19-related hospitalizations in Arizona have climbed steadily since October and into November, reaching 1,835 as of Thursday, including 431 patients in intensive-care beds.
The current hospitalizations are about half of the peak during Arizona’s summer surge and more than three times the levels seen in September during a comparative lull before the current surge.
Arizona reached 200,000 coronavirus cases on Aug. 27, 100,000 on July 6 and 50,000 cases on June 21. The state reached 6,000 coronavirus deaths on Nov. 3, 5,000 on Aug. 29, 4,000 on Aug. 6, 3,000 deaths on July 23, 2,000 on July 9 and 1,000 on June 5.
Arizona's Rt, pronounced r-naught, was at 1.15 on Wednesday, up from 1.11 on Tuesday, up from 1.09 on Monday.
The Rt is essentially a mathematical number that shows whether more people are becoming infected or less.
The concern is that any Rt over 1, no matter how small, means the virus may grow exponentially.
RELATED: This is the number that health officials are watching closely in the fight against COVID-19 (And you should too)
There were 5,450 cases reported on the collection date of June 29, the day with the most collected diagnoses so far. That is subject to change.
Health officials said the day with the highest number of reported deaths was July 17, when 103 people died. That is subject to change.
Health officials continued to stress that people should continue social distancing, wearing masks in public, and stay home when possible.
No more visitors at Banner Health
Visitors will no longer be allowed in any Banner Health location in Arizona, beginning at 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 22, the health system announced on Friday.
The decision comes as Arizona reported 4,471 new cases and 43 new deaths on Friday. It was also the second-highest number of new daily cases ever reported in Arizona, after 4,877 new cases were reported on July 1.
According to Banner, this includes outpatient and ambulatory locations, such as clinics, urgent cares, imaging centers, surgery centers and occupational health services locations.
Below are the four exceptions to the visitor restrictions, listed by Banner:
- Pediatric patients (under the age of 18) may have one guardian or support individual with them.
- Laboring mothers may have one support person with them. Doulas will also be permitted but must leave after the birth.
- Persons with disabilities who, due to the specifics of the disability, require assistance from someone in order to effectively participate in the health care process will be allowed to designate a support person to accompany them while in any Banner facility.
- End of life visitations will be accommodated.
Everyone who enters a Banner Health facility is subject to a health screening to ensure they are not exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness. Masks also must be worn at all times while inside Banner facilities.
Valleywise Health Medical Center also said it would restrict visitors starting Monday.
One parent or guardian would be allowed per pediatric/NICU patient, one person per laboring or postpartum mother and one healthy support person or caregiver to vulnerable patients. End of life situations would be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Latest on coronavirus in Arizona on Friday morning
Team 12's Jen Wahl has the latest on the coronavirus in Arizona on Friday morning.
Valley food banks in need ahead of Thanksgiving, amid COVID-19
Thanksgiving is less than a week away and due to COVID-19, food banks are seeing a greater need this year. Team 12's Trisha Hendricks has the latest.
Watch: Arizona mayors hold COVID-19 press conference
Arizona Mayors Regina Romero, Kate Gallego, Coral Evans and Anna Tovar held a virtual press conference on the rise of COVID-19 cases across the state on Friday morning.
The mayors collectively called on Gov. Doug Ducey to do more in response to the ongoing spike of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said public health officials say the virus is most spread in small groups of people. Gallego also said arresting people for violating the local mask mandate is not the way to get through this.
Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans said the mayors were asking for "clear leadership from the top."
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said the mayors are pre-empted by Gov. Doug Ducey's October executive order.
You can watch the conference here.
Fifth Arizona state lawmaker infected with coronavirus
Another member of the Arizona Legislature has been diagnosed with the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Rep. Arlando Teller of Chinle announced Thursday that he tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing mild symptoms.
He is isolating and recovering at his home on the Navajo Nation.
Teller was elected to a second term in the Arizona House earlier this month. H
e is the fifth member of the Legislature to announce they had the disease since the outbreak hit the state early this year.
An Associated Press nationwide tally shows more than 190 state lawmakers have been infected and four have died.
The above article is from The Associated Press.
Glendale gym ordered to close for violating COVID-19 orders
The Arizona Department of Health Services ordered a Glendale gym to shut its doors on Friday after it was found to have violated COVID-19 orders.
Fitness 1 Gym near 35th Avenue and Union Hills Drive was ordered to close.
The gym did not apply or get approval from AZDHS to reopen, the department said.
Arizona school districts return to remote learning as COVID-19 cases surge
Multiple school districts across the Valley and Arizona are moving back to online learning due to a surge of COVID-19 cases.
Officials from the Glendale Union High School District announced Thursday that they will return to remote learning, according to an emailed release from the district.
In the email, numbers show the district has "hit red for the second consecutive week and are now in red in two different categories."
Cases per 100,000 people are at 169.14 and percent positivity is at 11.9%, both categories are in the red.
RELATED: Glendale Union HSD to return to remote learning as COVID-19 cases continue to rise across Arizona
The Tempe Elementary School District told families on Thursday that its schools will be returning to 100% remote learning on Monday.
"Unfortunately, COVID metrics today are much worse than last week, and we are now in the SUBSTANTIAL RISK category, requiring us to return to 100% virtual learning for all students," Superintendent Christine Busch wrote in a letter to families.
Cases per 100,000 people were at 123.27 last week and are now at 255.79, according to the district.
The district plans to return to on-site learning for all students on Jan. 4, 2021.
The Washington Elementary School District will also move to online learning Monday "due to the substantial increase of cases and positivity" in the district.
The Kyrene School District will also go back to online learning starting Nov. 30. Live instruction will begin on Dec. 1.
The Yuma Union High School District also announced that it would return to online learning starting Monday.
The district's governing board said they would review Yuma County's COVID-19 metrics in December and January to determine the next steps.
AIA postpones Arizona winter sports season
The Arizona Interscholastic Association announced Thursday it is pushing back the start of the winter sports season in high school athletics to Jan. 5.
The AIA oversees high school sports and activities.
The last permissible day of competition for winter sports will be Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, which includes any play-in competitions, the AIA says.
Schools must have a minimum of 14 days of practice before any competition can begin.
Maricopa County expecting 800 youth sports teams amid COVID-19 outbreak
Maricopa County is expecting nearly 800 youth sports teams to come to the Valley to play against each other this weekend in the midst of a spike of coronavirus cases in Arizona.
Marcy Flanagan, executive director of Maricopa County Public Health, brought up the issue Thursday during a press conference.
“We have several outbreaks that we have identified that we have associated with club sports and clubs sporting events,” Flanagan said.
RELATED: Maricopa County expecting 800 youth sports teams in the Valley, warns about COVID-19 outbreaks
Navajo Nation reports 167 new COVID-19 cases, 5 more deaths
Navajo Nation health officials on Thursday reported 167 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and five additional deaths.
The latest figures bring the total number of known cases to 14,085 including 38 delayed reported cases with 618 known deaths.
Tribal health officials say 144,514 people have been tested for COVID-19 since the pandemic started and 8,028 have recovered.
On Monday, the Navajo Nation reinstated a stay-at-home lockdown for the entire reservation which spans more than 27,000 square miles in parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
Most people experience mild or moderate symptoms with the coronavirus, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.
The above article is from The Associated Press.
Chicanos Por La Causa to hold free flu shot, COVID-19 test on Friday
Chicanos Por La Causa will hold an event to give people a free flu shot and a COVID-19 test on Friday.
The no-contact testing will take place from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 6850 W. Indian School Road.
It'll be provided by Arizona State University. The flu shots will be administered by Dignity Health.
You're asked to not eat, drink or smoke 30 minutes before testing.
Mesa Fire to hold free flu shot clinic Saturday
The Mesa Fire and Medical Department and Mesa Public Schools will put on a free flu shot clinic on Saturday.
The clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at Skyline High School.
It'll be available for adults and children 6 months and older.
Terros Health to offer COVID-19 testing at 4 Valley sites
Terros Health is offering COVID-19 testing at multiple locations across Maricopa County.
The oral tests will be given to both symptomatic and asymptomatic people.
Insurance will be accepted, and those without insurance will not be turned away.
Registration is required. To register, visit www.terroshealth.org and click on the link at the top of the home page, or call 602-685-6000.
The testing is being conducted at the following times and dates at four Terros Health locations:
Terros Health Olive Health Center
1-3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays
6153 W. Olive Ave., (West Olive and 61st avenues), Glendale
Terros Health 27th Avenue Health Center
1-3 p.m. Mondays and Fridays
3864 N. 27th Ave. (27th Avenue and Indian School Road), Phoenix
McDowell Health Center
1-3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays
4919 E. McDowell Road (McDowell Road at 202 Loop), Phoenix
Terros Health Stapley Health Center
1-3 p.m. Mondays and Saturdays
1111 S. Stapley Dr. (Stapley Drive and Southern Avenue), Mesa
Arizona health department sets up hotline to report businesses
The Arizona Department of Health Services has set up two ways for people to report local businesses that are not following COVID-19 guidelines.
People can report businesses through a hotline or through an online form:
- Submit a complaint online at www.azhealth.gov/complianceCOVID19
- Calling the COVID-19 Compliance Hotline at 1-844-410-2157
“There’s a role for the public as well: If you believe a business isn’t following these requirements, which were established for the safety of customers, employees, and the broader public, ADHS encourages you to share your concerns so local and state officials can follow up as needed,” AZDHS said in a statement.
RELATED: Arizona’s health department wants you to report businesses that don’t enforce safety requirements
Free masks available for some Arizonans
The Arizona Department of Health Services announced that some Arizonans would be able to get free masks from the state.
The department partnered with Hanes to provide free face masks to Arizona’s most vulnerable populations.
Anyone who is part of a vulnerable population (including, but not limited to, individuals with medical conditions or individuals age 65 or older), a student (or parents on behalf of students), school staff member or who may not be able to purchase one is able to get a free mask.
Each other will provide five washable, reusable cloth face masks, one order per household.
The department hopes to give out two million cloth face masks.
Anyone with questions can visit the department's FAQs page or contact Hanes at 1-800-503-6698.
Arizona releases ZIP code locations of coronavirus cases, other data
The Arizona Department of Health Services has released expanded data points regarding coronavirus cases in the state.
The AZDHS website now features the location of confirmed cases in Arizona by zip code.
You can see the current ZIP code map here and can find yours by clicking around or searching for your ZIP code in the top right of the map.
More information on coronavirus cases from Friday
There have been 291,696 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 6,427 coronavirus-related deaths reported in Arizona.
That's an increase from the 287,225 confirmed cases and 6,384 coronavirus-related deaths reported on Thursday.
There were 4,471 new cases reported on Friday, an increase from the 4,123 reported on Thursday.
There were 43 new deaths reported on Friday, an increase from 19 reported on Thursday.
There were 5,450 cases reported on the collection date of June 29, the day with the most collected diagnoses so far. That is subject to change.
Health officials said the day with the highest number of reported deaths was July 17, when 103 people died. That is subject to change.
In total, 27,614 new tests were reported on Friday, an increase from the 19,193 new tests reported on Thursday.
There have been a total of 2,418,990 PCR and Serology tests reported to the state as of Friday.
9.8% of those tests have been positive as of Friday, up from 9.7% on Thursday.
Here's a breakdown of the number of cases in each county:
- Maricopa: 185,580
- Pima: 34,985
- Pinal: 14,851
- Coconino: 6,765
- Navajo: 7,444
- Apache: 4,741
- Mohave: 5,482
- La Paz: 740
- Yuma: 16,042
- Graham: 1,815
- Cochise: 3,020
- Santa Cruz: 3,468
- Yavapai: 4,095
- Gila: 2,514
- Greenlee: 154
Click on the links below to find more information from each county's health department:
COVID-19 is believed to be primarily spread through coughs or sneezes.
It may be possible for the virus to spread by touching a surface or object with the virus and then a person touching their mouth, nose or eyes, but this is not thought to be the main method of spread, the CDC says.
You should consult your doctor if you traveled to an area currently affected by COVID-19 and feel sick with fever, cough or difficulty breathing.
There is no vaccine for the coronavirus, so the best way to prevent COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases is to:
- Wear face coverings while in public.
- Practice social distancing while in public.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
You can text FACTS to 602-444-1212 to receive more information on the coronavirus and to ask questions.
