Arizona reports 3,858 new coronavirus cases, 9 more deaths

This is a regularly updated story with the latest information, news and updates about the coronavirus and its impact in Arizona and beyond for the week starting June 22. (Previous daily updates: June 15-21)

PHOENIX – The Arizona health department reported 3,858 new coronavirus cases and nine additional deaths Sunday morning.

That brought the state’s documented totals to 73,908 COVID-19 cases and 1,588 deaths.

It marks the most coronavirus cases reported in a single day in the state, breaking Saturday’s mark of 3,591. It is also the seventh time in the last 10 days that daily cases surpassed the 3,000 mark.

The Arizona Department of Health Services has been providing case and testing updates on its website each morning. The dashboard includes, among other information, testing trends, updated hospital capacity and a ZIP Code map of cases.

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.

Arizona’s reported cases have been rising at a faster rate than testing has increased in recent weeks, prompting officials to implement new policies regarding face masks and restaurant operations.

State leaders have said hospitals have the capacity to handle the rising number of COVID-19 patients. The capacity data on the health department’s website doesn’t include surge beds that can be activated if needed.

Gov. Doug Ducey on Thursday sounded a warning, urging Arizonans to take more steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including staying home except when necessary and wearing face masks in public.

“The rate of the spread of this virus is unacceptable and it is time for us to step up our actions and our personal responsibilities regarding this virus,” he said.

The PCR Percent Positive rate continued to rise from 11.4% on Saturday to 11.7% on Sunday, continuing an upward surge since the start of the month. It was 11.1% on Friday and had been 6.7% on May 31.

There have been a total of 509,485 PCR tests administered in Arizona.

The weekly PCR positive rate has risen every week since the week starting May 10, when it was 5%.

With the 3,858 new cases, Arizona’s rate of cases per 100,000 population is 1,028.1. It marks that more than 1% of the state has contracted COVID-19.

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Below are the latest developments about the coronavirus pandemic from around the state, country and world:

Sunday, June 28

• Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez reported 55 new COVID-19 cases and one additional death.

Saturday, June 27

• Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez reported 94 new cases and 12 more deaths related to COVID-19.

Friday, June 26

• Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez reported 42 new coronavirus cases and two additional deaths.
• EPCOR has donated $50,000 to the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund, which has received more than $8.5 million to support the state’s families, medical professionals and those in need.
• Banner Health confirmed that Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa has activated its surge plan, as have other facilities in the state’s largest hospital system.
• Arizona officials have warned the Phoenix church that hosted President Donald Trump’s rally and a Glendale company about deceptive claims regarding air filtration systems and COVID-19.
• Texas and Florida reversed course and clamped down on bars again Friday in the nation’s biggest retreat yet as the number of confirmed coronavirus infections per day in the U.S. surged to an all-time high
• The highest ranking Democrat in the Arizona Senate isn’t satisfied with Republican Gov. Doug Ducey’s latest response to the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.
• The operator of Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino said everybody indoors at the facility in Maricopa must wear a face mask.

Thursday, June 25

• Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez reported 121 new COVID-19 cases and one new death on Thursday.
• Gov. Doug Ducey urged Arizonans to take more caution Thursday as coronavirus cases continue to rise throughout the state.
• The same day Banner Health announced it was deploying more than 200 additional nurses to combat a statewide spike in coronavirus cases, Gov. Doug Ducey said Arizona’s hospitals were on the verge of reaching surge capacity.
• The Riot House, an Old Town Scottsdale nightclub, was charged with violating Arizona regulations designed to combat the spread of COVID-19, authorities said.
• With COVID-19 surging in the state, the University of Arizona’s president cast doubt that the campus in Tucson would reopen in late August as planned.
• As coronavirus cases continue to soar in Maricopa County, public health officials have encountered roadblocks that are slowing the contact tracing process.
• The number of laid-off workers seeking U.S. unemployment benefits dipped only slightly last week, and the economy shrank in the first three months of the year — evidence of the ongoing economic damage being inflicted by the viral pandemic.
• Arizona Democrats called for a special session to forward policy proposals regarding the coronavirus pandemic and police reform.

Wednesday, June 24

• Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez announced an increase of 69 coronavirus cases among the Navajo Nation and a total death count of 347. While 7,157 individuals have contracted COVID-19, there have been 3,802 recoveries.
• Gov. Doug Ducey announced an allocation of $850 million in funding from the coronavirus relief bill for Arizona schools, a portion of which will aid schools during the upcoming year.
• CVS said it was rolling out 15 more drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites in Arizona on Friday, bringing the pharmacy giant’s total in the state to 64. Patients must schedule an appointment online to receive the service.
• New coronavirus cases in the U.S. have surged to their highest level in two months and are now back to where they were at the peak of the outbreak.

Tuesday, June 23

• Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez announced an increase of 43 coronavirus cases among the Navajo Nation and a total death toll of 336. While 7,088 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19, there have been approximately 3,754 recoveries.
• Ahead of Arizona’s Aug. 4 primary election date, Maricopa County election officials have announced plans to facilitate voting amid the public health crisis.
• A Valley intensive care unit nurse said she doesn’t feel like the Banner hospital where she works was prepared for a recent influx of coronavirus patients.

Monday, June 22

• Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez reported 55 new COVID-19 cases and zero additional deaths among the Navajo Nation. While 7,045 individuals have tested positive for the coronavirus, there have been approximately 3,716 recoveries.
• Arizona coronavirus testing is currently available to residents at more than 100 statewide sites — including more than 80 locations in metro Phoenix.
• More than 1,100 coronavirus cases have been confirmed among those behind bars at various Arizona facilities.
• The Buckeye City Council canceled a meeting to discuss a face mask policy scheduled for Tuesday and will let the countywide requirements approved Friday by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors stand as the West Valley city’s policy.

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