Number of COVID-19 deaths reported in Arizona continues to fluctuate

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PHOENIX – While other pandemic metrics plummet, Arizona’s reported COVID-19 death numbers continue to zig-zag.

The state’s seven-day average for newly reported COVID deaths reached an omicron wave high of 103 on Feb. 1.

The rate then trended lower over the next two-plus weeks until dipping to 48 on Feb. 16, the first time under 50 since Dec. 4.

But the trend didn’t last, and the seven-day average average was up to 86 for Wednesday.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Arizona has the third-highest rate of COVID deaths per 100,000 residents over the last seven days, behind West Virginia and Maine.

Since the CDC started keeping COVID records in January 2020, Arizona ranks second to Mississippi in coronavirus deaths per 100,000.

Here’s the latest state data on the pandemic (hospital, case, death and testing statistics are based on Thursday 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 – 1,973,479
• Daily new reports – Thursday: 1,801; One day earlier: 1,236; One week earlier: 2,781; Pandemic high: 27,681 (Jan. 22, 2022)
• Seven-day average – Wednesday: 2,085; One day earlier: 2,219; One week earlier: 3,635; Pandemic high: 20,778 (Jan. 24, 2022)

COVID-19 deaths

• Documented pandemic total – 27,790
• Daily new reports – Thursday: 86; One day earlier: 39; One week earlier: 209; Pandemic high: 335 (Jan. 12, 2021)
• Seven-day average – Wednesday: 86; One day earlier: 81; One week earlier: 48; Pandemic high: 175 (Jan. 13, 2021)

COVID-19 hospitalizations

• COVID inpatients – Wednesday: 1,407; One day earlier: 1,475; One week earlier: 1,915; Pandemic high: 5,082 (Jan. 11, 2021)
• COVID ICU patients – Wednesday: 335; One day earlier: 347; One week earlier: 415; Pandemic high: 1,183 (Jan. 11, 2021)

Statewide hospital capacity

• Inpatients beds available – Wednesday: 573 (7% of capacity); One day earlier: 598 (7%); One week earlier: 495 (6%)
• Percentage of inpatient beds with COVID patients – Wednesday: 16%; One day earlier: 17%; One week earlier: 22%
• ICU beds available – Wednesday: 161 (10% of capacity); One day earlier: 167 (10%); One week earlier: 136 (8%)
• Percentage of ICU beds with COVID patients – Wednesday: 20%; One day earlier: 21%; One week earlier: 25%

Laboratory diagnostic testing

• Weekly percent positivity – Samples taken this week: 8%; Last week: 11%; Two weeks ago: 16%; Pandemic high (for a full week): 34% (Jan. 16-22, 2022)
• Find a testing site: ADHS (statewide)

Find a vaccine site

• ADHS (statewide); Maricopa County Public Health (metro Phoenix)

Additional details

With numbers in decline across the board, the Arizona Department of Health Services announced that it will stop updating its pandemic dashboard on a daily basis after Saturday morning and shift to weekly updates starting March 2.

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. Booster shots provide additional protection and are approved 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.

The minimum age for vaccination is 5 for Pfizer and 18 for Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.

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