Arizona reports 2,029 new COVID-19 cases, 71 more deaths Tuesday

PHOENIX – Arizona health officials on Tuesday reported 2,029 new COVID-19 cases and 71 additional deaths from the disease.

The latest documented totals are 1,122,390 infections and 20,453 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard.

Today’s #COVID19 dashboard update adds 2,029 cases and 71 deaths. The vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths are occurring among those who aren’t fully vaccinated. #RollUpYourSleeve https://t.co/GVkRGOEmpw pic.twitter.com/o5O7ZVuwm0

— AZ Dept of Health (@AZDHS) October 12, 2021

Research released last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that unvaccinated people were 4-5 times more likely to get infected and 11 times more likely to die than people who were fully vaccinated.

Arizona’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have plateaued recently after trending downward over the second half of September.

The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 inpatients in the state’s hospitals Monday was 1,759, up four from the previous day and more than 300 below the peak of the current wave.

The number of ICU beds used by COVID-19 patients was 460, down 12 from the previous day to the lowest level since Aug. 21.

The positivity rate for COVID-19 diagnostic testing conducted last week was at 12% for the third consecutive week as of Tuesday’s update.

The dashboard also showed that 4,271,482 people (59.4% of the state’s population, based on 7,189,020 residents) have received at least one dose of vaccine in Arizona and 3,781,360 people are fully vaccinated (52.6% of the population). The nationwide rates are 65.3% with at least one dose and 56.4% fully vaccinated, per the CDC.

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 serious illness and death from COVID-19, including the predominant and more contagious delta variant.

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.

Follow @KTAR923