Arizona reports COVID-19 increase to 104 cases, state spread moderate
Mar 21, 2020, 9:35 AM | Updated: 1:07 pm
(Jake Danna Stevens/The Times-Tribune via AP)
PHOENIX — The number of COVID-19 cases in Arizona increased to 104 as of Saturday morning, according to the state health department.
The Arizona Department of Health Services also raised the community spread from minimal to moderate.
The state’s first coronavirus death was confirmed Friday night in Maricopa County.
A total of 49 cases were reported in Maricopa County, while Pinal and Pima counties have 14 and 12, respectively.
Eleven cases were reported in Coconino County, 10 in Navajo, three in Apache and one each in Yavapai, Graham and Yuma.
The AZDHS has been updating its coronavirus web page with the number of cases each morning.
More than half of the cases reported by the state, 72, were diagnosed in private labs, which have been expanding their capability to test for the virus.
On Friday morning, state health officials announced a total of 63 cases in Arizona.
Federal and state officials have said an increased capacity to administer and process tests will result in a sharp increase in the rate of new cases in the coming days, so it’s unclear how much of the increase is due to spread of the virus and how much to the boost in testing.
State health leaders are advising people with mild symptoms to stay home and said not to go to an emergency room unless the situation is an emergency. They said positive tests won’t change treatment for patients in the absence of serious symptoms.
On Thursday, Gov. Doug Ducey announced a series of executive orders, including shutting down bars and dine-in options in counties with confirmed cases, designed to slow the spread of the virus.