Coronavirus cases in Arizona rise to 773, 2 more deaths reported
Mar 28, 2020, 9:21 AM | Updated: Mar 29, 2020, 7:56 am
PHOENIX – Coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped by more than 100 again on Saturday, as the number rose to 773 across the state.
Two additional deaths were also reported, bringing the total to 15.
The state had its largest increase in cases and deaths on Friday, as 157 positive tests were reported, bringing the total to 665 at the time.
The update on Thursday morning had 508 positive cases statewide, while Wednesday’s total was 401.
The Arizona Department of Health Services reported 13 deaths on Friday, up five from Thursday.
The health department has been providing daily case updates on its website each morning.
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Maricopa County, the state’s most populous county and where the most positive coronavirus cases have been reported in Arizona, added another 55 COVID-19 cases in the past day and now has 454.
Pima County has the state’s second-highest case total, with 120.
Twelve other Arizona counties also have positive tests: Navajo with 57; Coconino with 56; Pinal with 41; Apache and Yavapai with 13; Mohave with 5; Yuma with 4; Cochise with 3; Graham, La Paz and Santa Cruz with two each and Gila with one.
Greenlee is the only county remaining in Arizona that hasn’t reported any cases.
All counties with reported cases must follow Gov. Doug Ducey’s executive order to close bars and ban dine-in service at restaurants. Theaters, gyms, fitness centers and other businesses where crowds gather must also close under the order.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero on Friday night ordered city businesses not deemed “essential” to close for three weeks. The order went into effect at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
Arizona Health Director Dr. Cara Christ this week said models are projecting that Arizona COVID-19 cases could peak in April, with hospitalizations peaking in May.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,246 deaths from more than 85,000 COVID-19 cases as of Friday.
There are more than 618,000 cases worldwide as of Saturday morning, resulting in more than 28,000 deaths, according to data compiled and constantly updated by Johns Hopkins University.
The U.S. moved ahead of China into the top spot globally for the number of reported cases on Thursday, according to the university.
