(AP Photo)
This is a regularly updated story with the latest information on the coronavirus and its impact in Arizona and beyond for February 5, 2021.
PHOENIX – Health officials in Arizona reported 3,826 new cases of coronavirus and 196 additional deaths from COVID-19 on Friday.
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard, the state’s documented totals have amounted to 775,622 infections and 13,948 fatalities.
The virus remains widespread in the state, although the wave that made Arizona the country’s hot spot last month is waning.
In Thursday’s update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Arizona has fallen to No. 4 in the country in average per capita cases in the past seven days, after Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina. Arizona came fourth in kill, behind Alabama, South Carolina and Iowa.
Hospital admissions in COVID-19 are now lower than at the July peak of the state’s first wave, but the number of cases and deaths is still higher.
The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients in Arizona fell to 3,167 on Thursday, the lowest number since Dec. 8. The number of IC beds used by COVID-19 patients has fallen to 909, the second least since December 21.
Statewide, COVID-19 patients occupied 37% of all hospital beds and 51% of all IC beds on Thursday. Overall, the pre-hospital beds were 90% of the capacity and 87% of the intensive care beds.
Arizona’s weekly percent positivity for COVID-19 diagnostic tests, an indicator of how much the virus is spreading in the community, is declining but remains at a significant level.
Of the 29,430 people tested so far this week, 14% got a positive result. The recorded positive figure for last week was 16% for 125,908 people tested, the lowest since before Thanksgiving and the fourth consecutive weekly decline.
Official positivity rates are based on when the samples are taken, not when they are reported, so the rate for the past few weeks may fluctuate as labs are testing and the results are documented by the state.
The seven-day average for the state health department’s newly reported coronavirus cases was 4,080.57 for Thursday, according to tracking by The Associated Press, the lowest since Nov. 30, but still higher than the July peak of the first wave.
The seven-day mean of newly reported deaths remained the same as the day before at 133.29.
The state updates current case, death, and test data daily after the state receives and confirms statistics, which can delay several days or more. They do not reflect actual activity for the past 24 hours.
The hospital admission data posted each morning is reported electronically the night before by 100 hospitals across the state, as required under executive order.
COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, does not affect some people and is severely disabling or fatal for others. Infected people without symptoms – including but not limited to a cough, fever, and difficulty breathing – can spread the virus.
Diagnostic tests are available in hundreds of Arizona locations and should be sought by anyone with symptoms or who may have been exposed to an infected person. Information on locations, schedules, and registration can be found on the Department of Health Services website.
The department also has a vaccine finder page with a map of locations and registration information.
Below are Friday’s latest developments regarding the coronavirus pandemic from around the state, country and world:
- The Senate passed a budget resolution early Friday that is an important step toward speedy passage of President Joe Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus plan, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the binding vote.