Number of new Arizona COVID cases plummeting after peaking a week ago

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PHOENIX – The number of new COVID-19 cases in Arizona has sharply declined since topping out about a week ago, one of several signs the state’s omicron spike could be past its peak.

Today’s #COVID19 dashboard update adds 12,259 cases and no new deaths. COVID-19 testing is available at hundreds of locations. Get tested if you have symptoms or 5-7 days after exposure to someone who is positive or who you believe is positive. More: https://t.co/MAXE8sHyT4 pic.twitter.com/a8udGjRFOr

— AZ Dept of Health (@AZDHS) January 31, 2022

On Jan. 22, the state reported a pandemic-high 27,681 new cases. Two days later, the seven-day average for newly reported cases, which had dipped below 3,000 in late December, peaked at 20,788.

By Sunday, the seven-day average was down to 15,119, 27% lower than the record set six days earlier. And on Monday, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported 12,259 new cases, the second fewest since Jan. 7.

Other data points are also trending downward, but not as steeply as reported cases.

The number of hospital inpatients with COVID was at 3,348 on Sunday, down 6% from the omicron peak of 3,559 reached just three days earlier.

In addition, last week’s percent positivity for diagnostic testing was 29%, down from the pandemic high of 34% recorded the previous week.

ICU use by COVID patients and deaths from the virus, however, continue to lag behind case trends, as has happened throughout the pandemic, and remain at or near the high marks of the omicron wave.

Here’s the latest data on the pandemic in Arizona (hospital, case, death, testing and vaccination statistics are based on Monday 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 – 1,870,644
• Daily new reports – Monday: 12,259; One day earlier: 13,473; One week earlier: 14,750; Pandemic high: 27,681 (Jan. 22, 2022)
• Seven-day average – Sunday: 15,119; One day earlier: 16,469; One week earlier: 20,394; Pandemic high: 20,778 (Jan. 24, 2022)

COVID-19 deaths

• Documented pandemic total – 26,205
• Daily new reports – Monday: 0; One day earlier: 23; One week earlier: 1; Pandemic high: 335 (Jan. 12, 2021)
• Seven-day average – Sunday: 83; One day earlier: 89; One week earlier: 59; Pandemic high: 175 (Jan. 13, 2021)

COVID-19 hospitalizations

• COVID inpatients – Sunday: 3,348; One day earlier: 3,357; One week earlier: 3,432; Pandemic high: 5,082 (Jan. 11, 2021)
• COVID ICU patients – Sunday: 648; One day earlier: 648; One week earlier: 613; Pandemic high: 1,183 (Jan. 11, 2021)

Statewide hospital capacity

• Inpatients beds available – Sunday: 465 (5% of capacity); One day earlier: 443 (5%); One week earlier: 504 (6%)
• Percentage of inpatient beds with COVID patients – Sunday: 38%; One day earlier: 38%; One week earlier: 39%
• ICU beds available – Sunday: 103 (6% of capacity); One day earlier: 99 (6%); One week earlier: 128 (8%)
• Percentage of ICU beds with COVID patients – Sunday: 39%; One day earlier: 39%; One week earlier: 37%

Laboratory diagnostic testing

• Weekly percent positivity – Samples taken this week: 10% (only 272 tests reported); Last week: 29%; Two weeks ago: 34%; Pandemic high (for a full week): 34% (Jan. 16-22, 2022)
• Find a testing site: ADHS (statewide)

Vaccines

• Percentage of eligible Arizonans fully vaccinated – As of Monday: 60.1%; One day earlier: 60.1%; One week earlier: 59.8%
• Percentage of eligible Arizonans with at least one shot – As of Monday: 72.9%; One day earlier: 72.9%; One week earlier: 72.3%
• 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.

The minimum age for vaccination is 5 for Pfizer and 18 for Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. Boosters are approved, and highly encouraged, 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.

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