(AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee, file)
Saturday, 10 Oct October, is a regularly updated story about the latest information, news and updates about coronavirus in Arizona and beyond.
PHOENIX – Arizona health officials reported 894 new coronavirus cases and 13 additional deaths Saturday morning.
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, a total of 224,978 Covid-19 infections and 5,759 fatalities have been documented in the state.
The main metrics about the severity of the Arizona epidemic have plummeted since the peak during the summer, although coronavirus-related hospitalizations have recently been introduced.
The number of Arizona confirmed or suspected COVID-19 hospital patients fell to 685 on Thursday, down 21 from the previous day, but the fourth highest since Sept. 3.
After rising for eight consecutive days, the number of Covid-19 patients in ICU beds dropped from 10 to 145 on Friday, the third highest since 13 September. September 22, it was epidemic-low 114.
Both, reported on July 13, the figure for Kovid-19 hospital admissions is still well below the peaks of 3,517 inpatients and 970 patients in ICU beds.
Arizona’s weekly percentage positivity for the Covid-19 diagnostic test is at 4% for the sixth consecutive week, with 46,828 tests reported so far this week.
The positivity rate, an indicator of the spread of the virus in the community, was as high as 20% at the end of June.
Weekly rates are based on when samples are taken, not when they are reported, so percentages can fluctuate in recent weeks as labs are caught in the tests and the results are documented by the state.
Daily reports from the Arizona Department of Health state, after receiving statistics and confirming them, present case, death, and test data, which can be delayed for several days or more. They do not represent the actual activity of the last 24 hours.
Hospital admission data posted every morning, however, has been reported by hospitals the previous evening.
The seven-day rolling average of newly registered cases from the state health department was 617.29 as of Thursday, according to tracking in the Associated Press. It is the highest since September 24, but on July 6 it is well below the peak of 3,844.
The seven-day average of newly recorded deaths fell to .5.57, falling below 10 for the first time since May, with an average of 94 94 deaths reported on July 30.
Cases skyrocketed in June, with local governments in many parts of Arizona – including all of Maricopa County – enforcing face mask requirements, and Gov. Doug Ducey issuing statewide executive orders to close some businesses and ban restaurant business.
The spread of COVID-19 soon slowed and is steadily declining from the peak of the epidemic. All Arizona counties have hit the benchmark set by the Department of Health that allows certain industries to reopen under capacity restrictions and other regulations.
Covid-19, a disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has no effect on some people and is severely debilitating or fatal to others. Infected people without symptoms – including but not limited to coughing, fever and shortness of breath – are capable of spreading the virus.
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