Arizona reports under 3,000 new COVID cases as omicron wave subsides

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PHOENIX — Arizona on Friday reported 2,783 new COVID-19 cases, the fewest of the year in a standard update, and 52 additional deaths from the virus.

Today's #COVID19 dashboard adds 2,783 cases and 52 deaths.

Help preserve hospital ER capacity for emergencies. If you have mild COVID-19 symptoms or need testing, use options such as your doctor, urgent care, tele-health, or a testing provider listed at https://t.co/Y8JTEbxEFp. pic.twitter.com/smD2ohznFN

— AZ Dept of Health (@AZDHS) February 11, 2022

Other than Jan. 2, when data processing was delayed after the New Year’s holiday, the state hadn’t reported a fewer new cases in a day since Dec. 28.

In January, while the highly contagious omicron variant was fueling a record surge in infections, the daily case report was above 10,000 all but three days. In February, the number has been in four-figure territory every day.

In another noteworthy development from Friday’s update of Arizona’s pandemic data, the state’s ICUs had fewer than 500 COVID patients for the first time in more than three months.

Here’s the latest data on the pandemic in Arizona (hospital, case, death and testing statistics are based on Friday morning’s update of the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard; seven-day averages are based on tracking by The New York Times):

COVID-19 cases

• Documented pandemic total – 1,941,802
• Daily new reports – Friday: 2,783; One day earlier: 7,379; One week earlier: 9,077; Pandemic high: 27,681 (Jan. 22, 2022)
• Seven-day average – Thursday: 6,384; One day earlier: 6,443; One week earlier: 11,506; Pandemic high: 20,778 (Jan. 24, 2022)

COVID-19 deaths

• Documented pandemic total – 27,073
• Daily new reports – Friday: 52; One day earlier: 165; One week earlier: 100; Pandemic high: 335 (Jan. 12, 2021)
• Seven-day average – Thursday: 84; One day earlier: 70; One week earlier: 76; Pandemic high: 175 (Jan. 13, 2021)

COVID-19 hospitalizations

• COVID inpatients – Thursday: 2,436; One day earlier: 2,550; One week earlier: 3,064; Pandemic high: 5,082 (Jan. 11, 2021)
• COVID ICU patients – Thursday: 499; One day earlier: 518; One week earlier: 632; Pandemic high: 1,183 (Jan. 11, 2021)

Statewide hospital capacity

• Inpatients beds available – Thursday: 604 (7% of capacity); One day earlier: 588 (7%); One week earlier: 526 (6%)
• Percentage of inpatient beds with COVID patients – Thursday: 28%; One day earlier: 29%; One week earlier: 35%
• ICU beds available – Thursday: 137 (8% of capacity); One day earlier: 122 (7%); One week earlier: 117 (7%)
• Percentage of ICU beds with COVID patients – Thursday: 31%; One day earlier: 32%; One week earlier: 38%

Laboratory diagnostic testing

• Weekly percent positivity – Samples taken this week: 18%; Last week: 23%; Two weeks ago: 29%; Pandemic high (for a full week): 34% (Jan. 16-22, 2022)
• Find a testing site: ADHS (statewide)

Find a vaccine site

• ADHS (statewide); Maricopa County Public Health (metro Phoenix)

Additional details

The ADHS daily case and death updates can cover multiple days of reporting because of data processing procedures and aren’t meant to represent the actual activity over the previous 24 hours. The hospitalization numbers posted each morning are reported electronically the previous evening by hospitals across the state.

The actual caseload is likely higher than officially reported because ADHS data is based mainly on electronic laboratory reporting and doesn’t include results from home kits unless individuals report them to their health care providers.

Vaccines have proven to reduce the likelihood of a COVID infection causing serious illness or death, even with the highly contagious omicron variant. Booster shots provide additional protection and are approved for individuals who received their second Pfizer (ages 12 and up only) or Moderna doses at least five months ago or the Johnson & Johnson shot at least two months ago.

The minimum age for vaccination is 5 for Pfizer and 18 for Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.

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