Arizona ends 26-day streak of reporting more than 10,000 new COVID cases

PHOENIX – The Arizona health department on Tuesday reported fewer than 10,000 new COVID-19 cases for the first time in nearly a month.

Today’s #COVID19 dashboard update adds 7,567 cases and 140 deaths. Wear a mask correctly and consistently to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Visit https://t.co/Ej96AvQuRR to learn about different types of masks and the advantages of each. pic.twitter.com/4MoN9hZ0Uh

— AZ Dept of Health (@AZDHS) February 1, 2022

After a pandemic-high stretch of 26 consecutive days above 10,000 that started Jan. 5, the state Department of Health Services reported 7,567 new infections Tuesday.

Before the highly contagious omicron variant emerged, Arizona’s longest streak of days with more than 10,000 newly reported cases was three in January 2021.

As of Monday, the state’s seven-day average for new cases was 14,763, the lowest since Jan. 11. The seven-day average has plummeted by 29% since peaking at 20,788 on Jan. 24.

The number of hospital inpatients with the virus and the percent positivity for diagnostic testing has also been trending downward, but COVID ICU cases and deaths remain at or near the high marks of the omicron wave.

---

Here’s the latest data on the pandemic in Arizona (hospital, case, death, testing and vaccination statistics are based on Tuesday morning’s update of the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard; seven-day averages are based on tracking by The New York Times):

COVID-19 cases

• Documented pandemic total – 1,878,211
• Daily new reports – Tuesday: 7,567; One day earlier: 12,259; One week earlier: 13,972; Pandemic high: 27,681 (Jan. 22, 2022)
• Seven-day average – Monday: 14,763; One day earlier: 15,119; One week earlier: 20,788; Pandemic high: 20,778 (Jan. 24, 2022)

COVID-19 deaths

• Documented pandemic total – 26,345
• Daily new reports – Tuesday: 140; One day earlier: 0; One week earlier: 0; Pandemic high: 335 (Jan. 12, 2021)
• Seven-day average – Monday: 83; One day earlier: 83; One week earlier: 59; Pandemic high: 175 (Jan. 13, 2021)

COVID-19 hospitalizations

• COVID inpatients – Monday: 3,275; One day earlier: 3,348; One week earlier: 3,526; Pandemic high: 5,082 (Jan. 11, 2021)
• COVID ICU patients – Monday: 649; One day earlier: 648; One week earlier: 616; Pandemic high: 1,183 (Jan. 11, 2021)

Statewide hospital capacity

• Inpatients beds available – Monday: 549 (6% of capacity); One day earlier: 465 (5%); One week earlier: 534 (6%)
• Percentage of inpatient beds with COVID patients – Monday: 37%; One day earlier: 38%; One week earlier: 40%
• ICU beds available – Monday: 111 (7% of capacity); One day earlier: 103 (6%); One week earlier: 107 (7%)
• Percentage of ICU beds with COVID patients – Monday: 40%; One day earlier: 39%; One week earlier: 37%

Laboratory diagnostic testing

• Weekly percent positivity – Samples taken this week: 26%; Last week: 29%; Two weeks ago: 34%; Pandemic high (for a full week): 34% (Jan. 16-22, 2022)
• Find a testing site: ADHS (statewide)

Vaccines

• Percentage of eligible Arizonans fully vaccinated – As of Tuesday: 60.1%; One day earlier: 60.1%; One week earlier: 59.8%
• Percentage of eligible Arizonans with at least one shot – As of Tuesday: 73%; One day earlier: 72.9%; One week earlier: 72.4%
• Find a vaccine site: ADHS (statewide); Maricopa County Public Health (metro Phoenix)

Additional details

The ADHS daily case and death updates can cover multiple days of reporting because of data processing procedures and aren’t meant to represent the actual activity over the previous 24 hours. The hospitalization numbers posted each morning are reported electronically the previous evening by hospitals across the state.

The actual caseload is likely higher than officially reported because ADHS data is based mainly on electronic laboratory reporting and doesn’t include results from home kits unless individuals report them to their health care providers.

Vaccines have proven to reduce the likelihood of a COVID infection causing serious illness or death, even with the highly contagious omicron variant.

The minimum age for vaccination is 5 for Pfizer and 18 for Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. Boosters are approved, and highly encouraged, for individuals who received their second Pfizer (ages 12 and up only) or Moderna doses at least five months ago or the Johnson & Johnson shot at least two months ago.

Follow @KTAR923