FILE – This December 17, 2020 file photo shows prepared COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine syringes at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Illinois (AP Photo / Nam Y. Huh)
This is a regularly updated story with the latest information about the coronavirus and its impact in Arizona and beyond for December 22, 2020.
PHOENIX – Health officials in Arizona reported 5,859 new cases of coronavirus and 153 additional deaths on Tuesday.
It was the pandemic’s second-highest one-day death report, behind only the 172 of July 30, and the fifth time in seven days with triple digits.
The state’s documented totals rose to 467,215 COVID-19 infections and 8,125 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
The daily reports present case, death, and test data after the state receives and confirms statistics, which may take several days or more. They do not reflect actual activity for the past 24 hours.
Multiple COVID-19 statistics in Arizona remain at or near pandemic highs.
The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 hospital patients in Arizona rose to a record 4,019 on Monday, surpassing the Friday level.
The number of COVID-19 patients in the state’s ICU beds was up to 943, the second highest ever, trailing only July 13 of 970.
Statewide, suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients occupied 47% of all hospital beds, corresponding to a record high, and 53% of all IC beds.
In total, the hospital beds were 91% full, as were the IC beds.
Arizona’s weekly percent positivity for COVID-19 diagnostic tests, an indicator of how much the virus is spreading in the community, is also showing signs of flattening.
During last week’s 153,468 tests, the positivity rate was 18%, which is consistent with the rate from the previous two weeks.
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 hospitalization data posted each morning is reported electronically the night before by 100 hospitals across the state as required under executive order.
The seven-day moving average for the health department’s newly reported cases was 5,871 for Monday, according to tracking by The Associated Press, nearly 2,000 below the peak reached a week earlier and the figure since Dec. 8.
The seven-day average of newly reported COVID-19 deaths has more than tripled this month and is just below the pandemic record of 94 set on July 31. The weekly death average for Monday was 87.71 for the second consecutive day, the fourth highest ever.
COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, does not affect some people and is severely disabling or fatal to others. Infected people without symptoms – including but not limited to a cough, fever, and difficulty breathing – can spread the virus.
Information on test sites can be found on the website of the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Below are Tuesday’s latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic from around the state, country and world:
- According to research from Johns Hopkins University, there were approximately 77.53 million COVID-19 cases worldwide and 1.7 million deaths on Tuesday morning. The figures for the US were about 18.04 million cases and 319,000 deaths.