ARIZONA NEWS

Arizona reports 17,234 new COVID-19 cases, no new deaths on Sunday

Jan 3, 2021, 8:47 AM | Updated: 4:04 pm

(AP Photo/Oded Balilty)...

(AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

(AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

This is a regularly updated story with the latest information about the coronavirus and its impact in Arizona and beyond for Jan. 3, 2021.

PHOENIX – Arizona health officials reported 17,234 new coronavirus cases and no new deaths on Sunday.

Sunday’s numbers bring the state’s documented totals to 556,384 COVID-19 infections and 9,061 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services dashboard.

The total number of cases broke the daily record high. The previous high was 12,314 coronavirus cases on Dec. 8.

As was the case the case throughout December, multiple COVID-19 metrics in Arizona are at or near pandemic highs.

The number of Arizona’s confirmed or suspected COVID-19 hospital inpatients increased to 4,557 on Saturday, up from 4,484 on Friday.

The number of COVID-19 patients in the state’s ICU beds climbed to 1,081 on Saturday.

Statewide, suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients took up 53% of all inpatient beds, setting a new record, and 61% of all ICU beds.

Overall, inpatient beds and ICU beds each were 93% full. The 127 remaining ICU beds were the fourth-fewest of the pandemic.

The rising tide of COVID-19 patients is squeezing the space left for other patients in Arizona’s hospitals. Banner Health, the state’s largest hospital system, said Wednesday it will pause all elective surgeries in Arizona starting Friday in response to the deluge of COVID-19 patients.

Arizona’s weekly percent positivity for COVID-19 diagnostic testing, an indicator of how much the virus is spreading in the community, is on a record-setting pace.

The percent positivity was 26% through 114,154 tests processed this week. It surpassed the record-tying mark of 21% from last week.

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 health department’s newly reported cases has been trending downward since peaking two weeks ago and was at 6,587 for Saturday, according to tracking by The Associated Press.

The seven-day average of newly reported COVID-19 deaths was climbing over the last week and was up to 91 for Saturday.

The state’s daily updates 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 electronically the previous evening by 100 hospitals across the state, as required under executive order.

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.

Diagnostic testing is available at hundreds of locations across Arizona and should be sought out by anybody with symptoms or who may have been exposed to an infected person. Information about locations, schedules and registration can be found on the Department of Health Services website.


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

  • Globally, there were about 84.761 million COVID-19 cases and 1.837 million deaths as of Sunday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University research. The figures for the U.S. were around 20.431 million cases and 350,267 deaths.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona News

Plane crash Falcon Field...

ABC15.com Staff

Preliminary report offers new details in plane crash that killed 5 people near Falcon Field

A preliminary NTSB report provides some details on the moments before a small plane crashed and killed five people near Falcon Field in November.

1 hour ago

An OHV safety course that will be required to register off-highway vehicles under a new Arizona law...

Kevin Stone

OHV safety course required under new Arizona law is now available online

Arizonans can start taking an OHV safety course that will be required to register off-highway vehicles under a new state law.

3 hours ago

An Avondale man was sentenced to prison last week for his role in a drug trafficking organization. ...

Bailey Leasure

Avondale man sentenced for role in drug trafficking organization

An Avondale man was sentenced to prison last week for his role in a drug trafficking organization.

5 hours ago

The fall 2024 Tempe Festival of the Arts runs Dec. 6-8....

Kevin Stone

Festival of the Arts to close downtown Tempe streets starting Thursday

As holiday shoppers flock to downtown Tempe this weekend for the Festival of the Arts, it could create issues for anyone driving in the area.

6 hours ago

artificial intelligence...

KTAR.com

Chandler-Gilbert Community College to offer 4-year bachelor’s degree in AI

An East Valley school will soon become one of the few community colleges in the nation with a bachelor’s degree program in artificial intelligence.

6 hours ago

Tempe said it will start strict enforcement of its urban camping ban....

Kevin Stone

Tempe to strictly enforce its urban camping ban after SCOTUS ruling, Prop 312 passage

In the wake of a related court ruling and state ballot initiative, the city of Tempe announced Tuesday that it will start strict enforcement of its urban camping ban.

7 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Sanderson Ford

Sanderson Ford’s Operation Santa Claus: Spreading holiday cheer through pickleball

Phoenix, AZ – Sanderson Ford, a staple in the Arizona community, is once again gearing up for its annual Operation Santa Claus charity drive.

...

Midwestern University

Midwestern University Clinics – Providing Comprehensive, Thorough and Unrushed Healthcare to the Valley Community

With so many options for healthcare in the Valley, why should you choose a clinic that has graduate medical students integrated into the patient experience?

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Collins Comfort Masters: Leading the Way in HVAC and Plumbing Services in Arizona

Tempe, AZ – Since its inception in 1985, Collins Comfort Masters has been a cornerstone in the HVAC and plumbing industry in Phoenix and the surrounding Valley.

Arizona reports 17,234 new COVID-19 cases, no new deaths on Sunday