Arizona again reports nearly 500 new coronavirus cases, adds 27 deaths
May 15, 2020, 9:06 AM | Updated: 3:17 pm
Mirimus lab scientists preparing to test COVID-19 samples from recovered patients on April 8, 2020 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Misha Friedman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Misha Friedman/Getty Images)
PHOENIX — The Arizona health department reported nearly 500 new coronavirus cases for the second day in a row Friday morning, with 27 additional deaths.
The state’s documented total of COVID-19 cases increased by 495 to 13,169, with 651 deaths.
Of the tests processed in the state for the virus (PCR testing) and for antibodies (serology testing), 6.2% have come back positive, a tick down from 6.3% the previous day.
The Arizona Department of Health Services has been providing case and testing updates on its website each morning. The dashboard includes, among other information, details about deaths from COVID-19 and hospital capacity plus a ZIP code map of cases.
RELATED STORIES
On Thursday morning, after the department reported 498 new cases 30 fatalities, the totals were 12,674 cases and 624 deaths.
The daily reports present data after the state receives statistics and compiles them, which can lag by several days. They aren’t meant to represent the actual activity over the past 24 hours.
Citing a decrease in positive test result percentage, adequate hospital capacity and expanded testing numbers, Gov. Doug Ducey announced Tuesday that Arizona’s stay-at-home order, which has been in effect since March 31, would expire as scheduled at 11:59 p.m. Friday.
RELATED STORIES
Almost all businesses deemed nonessential under the order can reopen starting Saturday if they follow physical distancing and enhanced sanitation guidelines established for their industry. Bars that don’t serve food, concerts, festivals and sporting events with fans are among the entities that must stay closed.
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.
In most cases, a positive test won’t change a patient’s treatment plan.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 85,990 deaths from more than 1.4 million COVID-19 cases as of Friday’s daily U.S. update.
According to data compiled and regularly updated by Johns Hopkins University, there were more than 4.5 million cases and 306,000 deaths globally as of Friday afternoon.
