Arizona reports 2,030 new coronavirus cases, adds 36 deaths

Nov 11, 2020, 8:25 AM | Updated: 8:02 pm

This is a regularly updated story with the latest information about the coronavirus and its impact in Arizona and beyond for Wednesday, Nov. 11.

PHOENIX – Arizona health authorities on Wednesday reported 2,030 new coronavirus cases with 36 additional deaths.

That put Arizona’s documented totals at 265,163 COVID-19 infections and 6,228 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Key pandemic metrics have been rising in Arizona at a rate not seen since the first wave hit in June and July. Cases have been surging since the beginning of October, and deaths started on the same course about three weeks later.

The number of Arizona’s confirmed or suspected COVID-19 hospital inpatients increased overnight to 1,360 on Tuesday. That’s 132% higher than Oct. 1, when it was 586, and the most since Aug. 12.

The number of COVID-19 patients in ICU beds increased to 309 on Tuesday, 147% above the Oct. 1 mark of 125 and the most since Aug. 26.

The hospitalizations remain well below the pandemic highs of 3,517 inpatients and 970 ICU patients, both recorded July 13.

Arizona’s weekly percent positivity for COVID-19 diagnostic testing, an indicator of how much the virus is spreading in the community, has reached its highest level in three months.

The weekly rate was at 9% for 107,434 tests recorded from last week, the highest since it was 10% for the week starting July 26. So far this week, it’s up to 10% through 8,018 tests recorded.

The weekly rate was at its highest at the end of June at 20%.

Official positivity rates are based on when the samples are taken, not when they are reported, so the percentage for recent weeks can fluctuate as labs get caught up on testing and the results are documented by the state.

The rolling seven-day average for the state health department’s newly reported cases shot up to 1,902.14 for Tuesday, according to tracking by The Associated Press, 296% higher than the Oct. 1 mark of 480 and the highest since Aug. 5.

The seven-day average of newly reported deaths was 24.57 for Tuesday, slightly down from the previous day but 219% higher than two weeks earlier.

The seven-day averages remain well below their peaks of 3,844 cases on July 6 and 94 fatalities on July 30.

The Arizona health department’s daily reports present case, death and testing data after the state receives statistics and confirms them, which can lag by several days or more. They don’t represent the actual activity over the past 24 hours.

The hospitalization data posted each morning is reported the previous evening by the hospitals.

As cases skyrocketed in June, local governments in many parts of Arizona — including all of Maricopa County — implemented face mask requirements, and Gov. Doug Ducey issued statewide executive orders to close certain businesses and restrict restaurant occupancy.

The spread of COVID-19 slowed after those steps were taken. All of Arizona’s counties have since hit benchmarks established by the health department that allow closed businesses to reopen under capacity restrictions and other regulations.

COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has no impact on some people and is seriously debilitating or fatal for others. Infected people without symptoms — which include but are not limited to cough, fever and difficulty breathing — are capable of spreading the virus.

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

The Navajo Nation reported 98 new coronavirus cases and one additional death, bringing the documented totals to 12,818 infections and 596 fatalities.
ASU Biodesign Institute Director Dr. Joshua LaBaer is urging the public to take advantage of testing resources to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Gov. Doug Ducey extended by 60 days the executive order that requires hospitals, labs and other health care facilities to report detailed information about COVID-19 to the state.
Arizona State University President Michael Crow told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show that the school’s COVID-19 strategies have been successful to this point but will continue to evolve.
Texas has become the first U.S. state with more than 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases as the nation continues to face a surge of infections, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
A Superior Court judge ruled that Gov. Doug Ducey overstepped his authority by allowing some Arizona restaurants to sell alcohol to-go with the proper license during the pandemic.
With coronavirus cases surging, Arizona school leaders are asking the public to do their part in mitigating the spread to keep schools open.
A new study by Arizona State University researchers showed that out of 2,364 Arizona teens, only 45% wear a mask when around their friends.
Globally, there were more than 51.62 million COVID-19 cases and 1.27 million deaths as of Wednesday morning, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The figures for the U.S. were around 10.26 million cases and 239,000 deaths.