With record daily report, metro Phoenix passes 20,000 COVID-19 cases

PHOENIX – The number of reported coronavirus cases in Maricopa County surpassed the 20,000 mark after a single-day high of 1,372 new cases were added to the metro Phoenix total Tuesday.

The county health department reported four new deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday, pushing the Valley’s totals to 540 fatalities and 20,670 cases.

#COVID19 case counts in Maricopa County are now over 20,000, with 1,377 cases reported yesterday, our highest number yet. We want to break the chain of transmission, not records for #coronavirus . Let's #MaskUpAZ keep #6feetapart and #SlowTheSpread. pic.twitter.com/xStAhjAt3m

— Public Health (@Maricopahealth) June 16, 2020

The county’s statistics can vary from those in the Arizona Department of Health Services’ daily reports because the agencies download their data at different times.

Maricopa County health officials have said cases have been increasing at a faster rate than testing, indicating community spread.

There are now 20,670 positive #COVID19 cases and 540 deaths in Maricopa County. The number of people diagnosed per day is steadily going up, indicating increased community spread. Find more data, hospitalizations & breakdowns by age in our daily report at https://t.co/KNQbnPRvZU. pic.twitter.com/m3cYV2zJZf

— Public Health (@Maricopahealth) June 16, 2020

While Arizona’s largest county is experiencing the highest number of cases and deaths in the state by far, it’s doing better than the rest of the state in a variety of measures.

According to Arizona health department data, Maricopa County’s rate of fatalities per 100,000 residents is 13.0, compared to 16.96 statewide.

The Phoenix area also has a lower positive rate for PCR tests, which detects active infections, at 8.4% compared to 8.7% statewide.

And while Maricopa County has more than 60% of the Arizona’s population, it has around 53% of COVID-19 cases and under 50% of the deaths, according to the state health department.

As of Tuesday morning, when a daily-high of 2,392 new cases were reported, the coronavirus had infected 39,097 people in Arizona and killed 1,219.

Maricopa County health officials have issued the following precautions for mitigating the spread of COVID-19:

• Always wear a mask or cloth face covering in public.
• Avoid groups of more than 10 people when possible.
• Always stay at least 6 feet from others in public.
• Limit contact with those outside of your household if possible, especially if you are in a high-risk group.
• Always stay home when you are sick.
• Stay home as much as possible when a household member is diagnosed with COVID-19.
• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water, and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when hand-washing isn’t possible.

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