Arizona reports no new coronavirus deaths for 2nd time in a week
May 4, 2020, 9:07 AM | Updated: 1:42 pm
PHOENIX — For the second time in a week, the Arizona health department reported no new deaths from COVID-19 on Monday morning.
Last Monday, the state reported zero coronavirus deaths for the first time in more than a month.
The number of positive tests for coronavirus went up by 279 on Monday to 8,919. The death count remained at 362.
There have now been 85,253 tests given in Arizona, an increase of 4,134 from the previous day. Eight percent of the tests processed have come back positive.
The Arizona Department of Health Services has been providing case and testing updates on its website each morning. The daily report includes details about deaths and hospital capacity plus a ZIP code map of cases.
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The department reported totals of 8,640 cases and 81,119 tests given in Sunday morning’s update.
Hospital resources as reported by the state have remained fairly stable in recent weeks, with more than 20% of inpatient beds and intensive care units remaining available.
About 65% of emergency beds are available, and more than 70% of the state’s ventilator supply is unused.
Arizona has been ramping up COVID-19 testing, with about 14,000 tests being conducted since Friday morning, as retail businesses prepare to reopen.
Gov. Doug Ducey’s stay-at-home order, which went into effect March 31 and was set to expire last week, has been extended to at least May 15 with modifications.
Stores that aren’t on the state’s list of essential businesses are allowed to sell goods via walk-up, drive-thru or curbside service starting Monday.
Then on Friday, retail stores are permitted to open their doors as long as they follow guidelines issued last week (although they aren’t required to open).
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In most cases, a positive test won’t change a patient’s treatment plan.
Coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 67,456 deaths from more than 1.1 million COVID-19 cases as of Monday’s daily U.S. update.
According to data compiled and regularly updated by Johns Hopkins University, there were more than 3.5 million cases and about 250,000 deaths globally as of Monday afternoon.
