Arizona reports 117 new COVID-19 deaths, adds 2,609 cases to total
Sep 14, 2021, 8:33 AM
A medic checks the vital signs of a COVID-positive man, 83, before transporting him to a hospital on Sept. 13, 2021, in Houston. The man and his wife, who had both tested positive the week before, had been recovering at home when his condition deteriorated and she called 911. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
(Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
PHOENIX – Arizona health officials on Tuesday reported 117 new deaths from COVID-19, the most in one day in over six months, and 2,609 more confirmed cases.
The last time more deaths were reported at one time was 121 on Feb. 25.
The latest documented totals are 1,053,487 infections and 19,304 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard.
The COVID-19 hospitalization numbers are about four times higher than they were before the state’s third wave started in early July, with people who aren’t fully vaccinated accounting for nearly all of the serious illnesses and deaths.
The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 inpatients in the state’s hospitals was 2,090 on Monday, a decrease of four from the previous day but the 15th consecutive day above 2,000.
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The number of ICU beds used by COVID-19 patients was 566, an increase of 12 from the previous day and the second-highest mark of the current wave.
COVID-19 patients took up 33% of the state’s ICU beds as of Monday, ending a streak of seven days at 32%, according to the dashboard. At the peak of the winter surge in January, 66% of the state’s ICU beds were filled with COVID patients.
The positivity rate for COVID-19 diagnostic testing conducted last week was 12% as of Tuesday’s update, matching the previous week.
The dashboard also showed that 4,091,474 people (56.9% of the state’s population, based on 7,189,020 residents) have received at least one dose of vaccine in Arizona and 3,612,590 people are fully vaccinated (50.3% of the population). The nationwide rates are 63.2% with at least one dose and 53.9% fully vaccinated, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The state health department’s daily updates present case and death 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 numbers posted each morning are reported electronically the previous evening by hospitals across the state.
Free federally authorized vaccines are widely available and highly effective in preventing illness from COVID-19, including the more contagious delta variant that now accounts for most of the new cases in the U.S.
For details about statewide vaccine availability, the ADHS website has a vaccine-finder page with locations and other information.
For information about metro Phoenix vaccine availability, Maricopa County Public Health has a locator page that lists pharmacies, government-run sites, health clinics and pop-up distribution events. Appointments may be required depending on the provider.
The minimum age to receive the Pfizer shot is 12, and it’s 18 for the other available versions, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.
COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 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.
Information about where to get tested for COVID-19 can be found on the ADHS website.
