Arizona reports 3,826 new COVID-19 cases, 196 more deaths

Feb 5, 2021, 8:24 AM | Updated: 8:28 pm

(AP Photo)

This is a regularly updated story with the latest information about the coronavirus and its impact in Arizona and beyond for Feb. 5, 2021.

PHOENIX – Arizona health officials on Friday reported 3,826 new coronavirus cases and 196 additional deaths from COVID-19.

The state’s documented totals moved to 775,622 infections and 13,948 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services’ COVID-19 dashboard.

The virus remains widespread across the state, although the surge that made Arizona the nation’s hot spot last month is receding.

In Thursday’s update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Arizona fell to No. 4 in the nation in average cases per capita over the last seven days, behind Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina. Arizona held at fourth in deaths, behind Alabama, South Carolina and Iowa.

COVID-19 hospitalizations are now lower than they were at the July peak of the state’s first wave, but cases and deaths are still higher.

The number of Arizona’s confirmed or suspected COVID-19 inpatients fell to 3,167 on Thursday, the fewest since Dec. 8. The number of ICU beds used by COVID-19 patients dipped to 909, the second-fewest since Dec. 21.

Statewide, COVID-19 patients took up 37% of all inpatient beds and 51% of all ICU beds on Thursday. Overall, inpatient beds were at 90% of capacity and ICU beds at 87%.

Arizona’s weekly percent positivity for COVID-19 diagnostic testing, an indicator of how much the virus is spreading in the community, has been receding but remains at a substantial level.

Of the 29,430 people tested so far this week, 14% received a positive result. The recorded positive rate for last week is 16% for 125,908 people tested, the lowest since before Thanksgiving and the fourth consecutive weekly decline.

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 seven-day average for the state health department’s newly reported coronavirus cases was at 4,080.57 for Thursday, according to tracking by The Associated Press, the lowest mark since Nov. 30 but still higher than the July peak of the first wave.

The seven-day average of newly reported deaths remained the same as the day before at 133.29.

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.

The department also has a vaccine-finder page with a map of locations and information about registration.

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

The total of COVID-19 vaccine shots given in Arizona now exceeds the number of people who’ve tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Navajo Nation reported 114 new cases and six additional deaths, bringing the documented totals to 28,796 infections, including 14 delayed reported cases, and 1,053 fatalities.
Dr. Will Humble, Arizona’s former health director, told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show that the pending one-shot COVID-19 vaccine will be a “game-changer,” but there’s no reason to shop around when it comes to getting vaccinated.
The Senate early Friday approved a budget resolution that’s a key step toward fast-track passage of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote.

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