Arizona becomes 11th state with more than 20,000 COVID-19 deaths

PHOENIX – Arizona is now the 11th U.S. state with more than 20,000 COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic started, authorities said Friday.

State health officials reported 3,642 new cases and 55 additional deaths, moving the total number of lives lost to 20,039.

Today’s #COVID19 dashboard update adds 3,642 cases and 55 deaths. Sadly, more than 20,000 Arizonans have lost their lives to this virus. We all must take steps to defeat COVID-19. https://t.co/CFdNHDG0S9 #RollUpYourSleeve

— AZ Dept of Health (@AZDHS) October 1, 2021

Arizona is the 14th largest state by population. The 13th largest, Washington, had 7,654 COVID-19 deaths as of Thursday, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

The latest documented case total on the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard is 1,097,225.

COVID-19 hospitalizations have been easing downward recently, with people who aren’t fully vaccinated accounting for nearly all of the serious illnesses and deaths.

The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 inpatients in the state’s hospitals Thursday was 1,756, down 12 from the previous day to the lowest mark since Aug. 16.

The number of ICU beds used by COVID-19 patients was 497, down 13 from the previous day and dropping below 500 for the first time since Aug. 27.

The dashboard also showed that 4,186,372 people (58.2% of the state’s population, based on 7,189,020 residents) have received at least one dose of vaccine in Arizona and 3,703,834 people are fully vaccinated (51.5% of the population). The nationwide rates are 64.6% with at least one dose and 55.6% fully vaccinated, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The state health department’s daily updates present case and death data after the state receives statistics and confirms them, which can lag by several days or more. They don’t represent the actual activity over the past 24 hours. The hospitalization numbers posted each morning are reported electronically the previous evening by hospitals across the state.

Free federally authorized vaccines are widely available and highly effective in preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19, including the predominant and more contagious delta variant.

For details about statewide vaccine availability, the ADHS website has a vaccine-finder page with locations and other information.

For information about metro Phoenix vaccine availability, Maricopa County Public Health has a locator page that lists pharmacies, government-run sites, health clinics and pop-up distribution events. Appointments may be required depending on the provider.

The minimum age to receive the Pfizer shot is 12, and it’s 18 for the other available versions, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, has no impact on some people and is seriously debilitating or fatal for others. Infected people without symptoms — which include but are not limited to cough, fever and difficulty breathing — are capable of spreading the virus.

Information about where to get tested for COVID-19 can be found on the ADHS website.

Follow @KTAR923