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 Thursday, Sept. 17.
Major updates:
- There have been 211,660 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 5,409 coronavirus-related deaths reported in Arizona as of Thursday.
- 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.
COVID-19 cases reported in Arizona on Thursday
There have been 211,660 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 5,409 coronavirus-related deaths reported in Arizona, according to the state's latest numbers.
Health officials said the state will add a "significantly higher number of cases" over the next couple days due to a "a result of advancements in testing, and includes recently classified positive antigen cases dating back over the previous several months."
That is an increase from 209,907 cases and 5,371 coronavirus-related deaths reported as of Wednesday.
A week ago, there were 207,002 cases and 5,273 deaths reported in Arizona.
LEER EN ESPANOL: Coronavirus en Arizona el 17 de septiembre: 1,753 casos nuevos y 38 decesos se reportan el jueves
1,753 new cases, 38 new deaths reported Thursday
The Arizona Department of Health Services reported 1,753 new cases and 38 new deaths on Thursday.
Health officials said Thursday's labs "include a large upload of PCR tests from ASU through ELR, resulting in the highest number of labs reported to date."
"Most of the labs being reported today are PCR tests, but we are also expanding how we define cases to include anyone with a positive antigen test in the probable case category," an AZDHS tweet read.
Arizona reached 200,000 coronavirus cases on Aug. 27, 100,000 on July 6 and 50,000 cases on June 21. The state reached 5,000 coronavirus deaths 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 0.97 as of Tuesday.
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.
There were 5,474 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 97 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.
WATCH GOV. DOUG DUCEY'S PRESS CONFERENCE:
Gila, Yuma counties meet benchmarks for some businesses to reopen
Gila and Yuma counties are now among the counties in Arizona that met the benchmarks Thursday to reopen businesses that were once ordered to close their doors in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The business reopening status for both counties was "moderate," meaning there were two consecutive weeks of 10 to 100 cases per every 100,000 people, a percent positivity between 5% and 10% and hospital visits for COVID-like illnesses in the region between 5% and 10%.
Here are the Arizona counties and their reopening status as of Thursday:
- Apache: Moderate
- Cochise: Moderate
- Coconino: Moderate
- Gila: Moderate
- Graham: Substantial
- Greenlee: Minimal
- La Paz: Moderate
- Maricopa: Moderate
- Mohave: Moderate
- Navajo: Moderate
- Pima: Moderate
- Pinal: Moderate
- Santa Cruz: Moderate
- Yavapai: Moderate
- Yuma: Moderate
Navajo Nation reports 18 new COVID-19 cases, 2 more deaths
Navajo Nation health officials on Wednesday reported 18 new confirmed cases of coronavirus with two additional deaths.
The Navajo Department of Health says there now have been 539 known deaths and 10,059 confirmed cases on the vast reservation since the pandemic began.
The latest numbers include 49 positive COVID-19 additional cases due to delayed reporting from New Mexico.
The Navajo Nation covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
Tribal health officials say 100,809 people have been tested for the coronavirus and 7,190 have recovered.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
The above article is from The Associated Press.
1 COVID-19 strain has role in 90% of Arizona infections
A union of TGen and the state’s top universities have found around 90% of all COVID-19 cases go back to a single strain of the virus.
Arizona COVID-19 Genomics Union looked at thousands of samples since the pandemic began to try and get a better molecular understanding of the virus.
The hope is a history of the virus can tell us where the infection is coming from and where it may be going.
Red Mountain High students test positive
Two students and an adult at Red Mountain High School in Mesa have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said Wednesday.
The adult was identified as an "adult participating on an athletic team."
One of them was on campus as recently as Monday, but Mesa Public Schools officials said they believe the exposure risk was low due to the precautions in place.
Parents and students were encouraged to monitor for symptoms and get tested if they feel they should or if they develop symptoms.
Maricopa County votes to reallocate more CARES Act funding
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday to reallocate funding from the CARES Act to support local food banks.
It also voted to expand two programs to provide financial assistance to renters and small business owners.
The vote will give an additional $40 million for the Small Business Relief Program and an additional $6.25 million for the COVID Crisis Rental Assistance Program.
You can check eligibility, apply for assistance, and upload documents at maricopa.gov/CovidRentHelp.
Scottsdale Fashion Week rescheduled over COVID-19
Scottsdale Fashion Week will be postponed, it was announced Wednesday.
It was originally scheduled for this upcoming weekend.
Officials said they made the decision "in the best interest of the community due to the continued health concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic."
They added that they are working closely with local officials to hold a safe event later this fall or winter. More information will be announced.
Fry's to hold flu shot clinic on Saturday
Fry’s Food Stores is hosting a flu shot clinic from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
It will be held at the Kiwanis Park Recreation Center in Tempe.
The flu shot clinics are open to the public and will offer free flu shots through most insurance plans.
Interested participants must register online to receive a flu shot at frysfood.com/flu.
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 Thursday
There have been 211,660 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 5,409 coronavirus-related deaths reported in Arizona.
That is an increase from 209,907 cases and 5,371 coronavirus-related deaths reported as of Wednesday.
There were 1,753 new cases reported on Thursday, an increase from the 695 new cases reported on Wednesday.
There were 38 deaths reported on Thursday, an increase from the 27 new deaths reported Wednesday.
There were 5,474 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 97 people died. That is subject to change.
In total, 24,856 new tests were reported on Thursday, an increase from the 16,564 new tests reported on Wednesday.
There have been a total of 1,630,300 PCR and Serology tests reported to the state as of Thursday.
10.8% of those tests have been positive as of Thursday, down from 10.9% on Wednesday.
Here's a county breakdown:
- Maricopa: 139,051
- Pima: 23,563
- Pinal: 10,263
- Coconino: 3,644
- Navajo: 5,733
- Apache: 3,417
- Mohave: 3,817
- La Paz: 530
- Yuma: 12,472
- Graham: 786
- Cochise: 1,872
- Santa Cruz: 2,801
- Yavapai: 2,442
- Gila: 1,208
- Greenlee: 58
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.
