COVID-19 vaccines are being prepared for health workers in Phoenix on Dec. 17, 2020. (Facebook photo / Banner Health)
This is a regularly updated story with the latest information about the coronavirus and its impact in Arizona and beyond for December 21, 2020.
PHOENIX – Health officials in Arizona reported 7,748 new cases of coronavirus and one additional death on Monday, as hospital admissions hit again after one day of declines.
The state’s documented totals have risen to 461,345 COVID-19 infections and 7,972 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Multiple COVID-19 statistics in Arizona remain at or near pandemic highs, though Saturday was the first day in more than a week with no record numbers of hospitalizations.
The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 hospital patients in Arizona was 3,925 Sunday, up 26 from the previous day and the third highest on record.
The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients in Arizona in ICU beds was 904, 19 more than the previous day and also the third highest on record.
Statewide, suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients occupied 46% of all hospital beds and 51% of all IC beds.
In total, 92% of the hospital beds were filled and the IC beds were also 92% filled.
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 137,303 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 Arizona Health Department’s Daily Reports present case, death, and testing data after the state receives and confirms statistics, which may lag several days or more. They do not reflect actual activity for the past 24 hours.
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 6,450.70 for Sunday, according to tracking by The Associated Press, the lowest weekly average since Dec. 13, but still one of the pandemic’s highest.
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 on July 31. 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 Monday’s latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic from around the state, country and world:
- According to research from Johns Hopkins University, there were approximately 76.95 million COVID-19 cases and 1.7 million deaths on Monday morning worldwide. The figures for the US were about 17.85 million cases and 317,000 deaths.