Arizona reports 2,399 new COVID-19 cases, 38 more deaths Friday

PHOENIX – Arizona health officials on Friday reported 2,399 new COVID-19 cases and 38 additional deaths from the disease.

The latest documented totals are 1,129,494 infections and 20,491 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard.

Today’s #COVID19 dashboard update adds 2,399 cases and 38 deaths. Even if you're fully vaccinated, continue following the proven mitigation strategies while COVID-19 spread in Arizona remains high or substantial. https://t.co/NtsbXWSrCk pic.twitter.com/0n3rXpN0AN

— AZ Dept of Health (@AZDHS) October 15, 2021

ADHS said most of the dashboard won’t update Sunday and Monday because of system updates. As a result, the numbers that come out Tuesday are expected to be far higher than normal because they’ll include three days’ worth of reports.

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 had been steady throughout October but dropped sharply in the latest report.

The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 inpatients in the state’s hospitals on Thursday was 1,663, down 106 from the previous day to the lowest level since Aug. 14.

The number of ICU beds used by COVID-19 patients was 466, down five from the previous day and more than 100 below the high mark of the July-September surge.

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