WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 23: Mayor Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) join other members of Congress to observe a quiet moment on the stairs of the United States Capitol, on February 23, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congressional leaders held a candlelit ceremony to mark the more than 500,000 deaths in the United States due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Al Drago / Getty Images)
This is a regularly updated story with the latest information on the coronavirus and its impact in Arizona and beyond on February 24, 2021.
PHOENIX – Arizona officials on Wednesday reported 1,310 new cases of coronavirus and 43 additional deaths from COVID-19.
The state’s documented totals have been updated to 811,968 coronavirus infections and 15,693 deaths, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 panel.
After reaching record levels in the first part of January, the numbers of cases and hospitalizations dropped to pre-Thanksgiving levels in Arizona.
The number of confirmed or suspected inpatients with COVID-19 in state hospitals dropped to 1,449 on Tuesday, the lowest since November 12. The number of ICU beds used by patients with COVID-19 has dropped to 430, the lowest since November 17.
Arizona’s weekly percentage of positivity for the COVID-19 diagnostic test, an indicator of how much the virus is spreading in the community, has been declining since the beginning of the year.
Of the 81,434 people tested last week, 9% tested positive, the same as in the previous week, which was the lowest mark since October. So far this week, the positive rate is 8% through 9,881 people tested.
Official positivity rates are based on when samples are collected, not when they are reported, so the percentage of the past few weeks may fluctuate as laboratories update tests and results are documented by the state.
The seven-day average for new coronavirus cases reported by the state health department stabilized last week and was 1,559.71 on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press tracking.
The seven-day average of recently reported deaths jumped to 112 on Tuesday, the highest since February 15.
In Tuesday’s update to the US Centers for Disease Control, Arizona was the sixth in the country in deaths from COVID-19 per capita in the past seven days and the 14th in cases. Arizona led the United States in both categories in January.
Daily updates from the Arizona Department of Health present data on cases, deaths and tests after the state receives the statistics and confirms them, which can take several days or more. They do not represent actual activity in the past 24 hours.
Hospitalization data published every morning is reported electronically the night before by hospitals across the state, as required by executive order.
COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, has no impact on some people and is severely debilitating or fatal for others. Infected people without symptoms – which include, but are not limited to, cough, fever and difficulty breathing – are able to spread the virus.
The diagnostic test is available in hundreds of locations across Arizona and should be sought out by anyone with symptoms or who may have been exposed to an infected person. Information on locations, times and registration can be found on the Department of Health Services website.
For information on vaccine availability across the state, the ADHS website has a vaccine location page with a map of locations and registration information.
Below are the latest developments on Wednesday about the coronavirus pandemic across the state, country and world:
- Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman said schools on Wednesday can safely reopen if they strictly follow the mitigation strategies outlined.
- The Navajo Nation reported 25 new cases of coronavirus and no additional deaths, bringing the documented total to 29,602 infections – including one case reported in arrears – and 1,152 deaths.
- The pending Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will be much easier to implement than previous versions, said Arizona health expert Dr. Will Humble The Mike Broomhead KTAR News 92.3 FM Show, and not just because it’s a one-time attempt.
- Apache County became the first Arizona county to move to Phase 1C of COVID-19 vaccinations, adding adults with high-risk medical conditions and adults living in congregated care settings to its list of eligible populations. Unvaccinated adults in Phases 1A and 1B are also eligible in northeastern Arizona county.
- Eight CVS stores in Arizona, including five in the Phoenix metropolitan area, now accept reservations for COVID-19 vaccinations for eligible populations.
- The Arizona Department of Health Services reported that 1,552,911 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the state, a daily increase of 43,074, with 1,114,425 people having received at least one injection.
- Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine protects against COVID-19, according to an analysis by U.S. regulators that sets the stage for a final decision on a new, easier-to-use vaccine to help tame the pandemic.
- Globally, there were about 112.23 million cases of COVID-19 and 2.49 million deaths on Wednesday morning, according to research by Johns Hopkins University. The figures for the US are around 28.26 million cases and 502,000 deaths.