Arizona coronavirus update: 15,315 confirmed cases, 763 known deaths as of Thursday

Arizona cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, now exceed 15,300 with 763 known deaths, according to numbers released on Thursday by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Arizona's total identified cases rose to 15,315 on Thursday, with 763 known deaths, according to the most recent state figures. That's an increase of 418 confirmed cases, or 2.8%, since Wednesday when the state reported 14,897 identified cases and 747 deaths.

The number of confirmed cases reported each day has risen steadily over the past weeks as more testing has taken place.

Reported daily death numbers have spiked over the last several weeks, although many occurred in previous weeks and are just being added to the system now because of reporting lags and a new death certificate surveillance process. The number of deaths reported each day represents the additional known deaths identified by the health department that day, but they are often not identified on the actual death date and could have occurred weeks prior.

The dates with the most deaths in a single day so far are April 30 and May 8 with 24 deaths each, followed by April 23 and May 5 with 23 deaths each. Next come April 19 and April 20 with 22 deaths on each of those days, according to Thursday's data, which is likely to change in the days ahead as more deaths are identified.

Maricopa County's confirmed cases exceed 7,800, according to state numbers, at 7,835.

The number of Arizona cases likely is higher than official numbers because of limits on supplies and available tests. The state announced April 23 that anyone who believes they could be infected can now get tested.

The Governor's Office and Health Department announced a "testing blitz" with the goal of testing 10,000 to 20,000 people each Saturday for three consecutive weekends. On Friday, the department announced the program would continue for two more Saturdays. Arizona has significantly increased diagnostic testing over the past two weeks because of loosened testing requirements and the weekend blitzes.

The percentage of positive tests per week decreased from 10% four weeks ago to 5% last week, likely in part because a broader range of people are being tested rather than just the very sick.

The state's effort to add new hospital beds has affected the hospitalization data. While the percentage of beds available have been fairly stable over the past couple weeks, the raw numbers of people in the hospital due to COVID-19 have actually gone up.

The latest Arizona data

As of Thursday morning, the state reported death totals from these counties: 361 in Maricopa, 174 in Pima, 69 in Coconino, 52 in Navajo, 37 in Pinal, 31 in Mohave, 22 in Apache, six in Yavapai and six in Yuma.

La Paz County and Gila County officials reported two deaths each, although the state site listed the two counties and Cochise County as just having fewer than three deaths. Greenlee, Graham and Santa Cruz counties each reported no deaths.

Of the statewide identified cases overall, 47% are men and 53% are women. But men made up a higher percentage of deaths, with 55% of the deaths men and 45% women as of Thursday.

People 65 and older made up 602 of the 763 total deaths, or 79%. People aged 55-64 made up 12% of deaths, followed by those aged 45-54 with 5% and 20-44 with 4% of deaths.

While race/ethnicity is unknown for 21% of deaths, 41% of deaths were white, 17% were Native American and 16% were Hispanic or Latino.

Overall, Arizona has 213 cases and 10.61 deaths per 100,000 residents, according to state data.

The scope of the outbreak differs by county. Maricopa County has 179.4 cases and 8.26 deaths per 100,000 residents, and Pima has 186.1 cases and 16.66 deaths per 100,000 residents.

Coconino has 660 cases and 46.85 deaths per 100,000 residents, and Navajo has 1,259.5 cases and 46.09 deaths per 100,000 residents.

Of the 15,315 cases, 30% involve individuals with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, cardiac disease, hypertension, chronic pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease or chronic liver disease. In addition, 40% of all cases are considered "high-risk," meaning the individual is either over 65 or has a chronic condition.

Of all confirmed cases, 8% are younger than 20, 39% are aged 20 to 44, 17% are aged 45 to 54, 15% are aged 55 to 64 and 21% are over 65. This aligns with the proportions of testing done for each age range.

The state Health Department website said both state and private laboratories have completed a total of 171,627 diagnostic tests for COVID-19, and 65,790 serology, or antibody, tests.

Most COVID-19 diagnostic tests come back negative, the state's dashboard shows, with 6.8% positive. For serology tests, 3.1% have come back positive. 

Maricopa County’s Department of Public Health provided more detailed information on its 7,733 cases Thursday (the state reported its cases at 7,835):

• Confirmed cases increased by 181 from Wednesday to Thursday. Deaths increased by four to 347. 
• The cases are 46% men and 54% women. 
• 1,187 cases have been linked to residents of long-term care facilities. Of those, 267 people (22%) have been hospitalized and 251 people (21%) have died.
• 185 long-term care facilities have at least one positive case from a resident or staff. Of the 602 staff members at these facilities who have tested positive, 33 have been hospitalized and two have died.
• 530 people under age 19 have tested positive, making up 7% of positive cases.
• People aged 20 to 44 make up 40% of positive cases, followed by people 45 to 64 years old at 31% and people 65 or older at 22%.
• 13%, or 996 cases, have been hospitalized.
• 4%, or 275 cases, have been in the intensive care unit. The hospitalization and ICU numbers include any cases that were in the hospital or ICU at any time during their illness, the county says.
• The likelihood of being hospitalized or in the ICU increases with age. Of those aged 20-44, 196 (6%) were hospitalized and 43 (1%) were in the ICU. For people aged 45-64, 345 (14%) were hospitalized and 99 (4%) were in the ICU. Among those over age 65, there were 447 (26%) hospitalized and 132 (8%) in the ICU.
• Of the 347 deaths in Maricopa County, six were aged 20-44, 34 were aged 45-64 and 307 were over age 65.
• Of the 347 deaths, 88% were 65 or older, 66% had a chronic medical condition and 95% were high risk (meaning 65 or older or at least one chronic medical condition).

Cases rise in other counties

According to Thursday's state update, Pima County reported 1,944 identified cases. Navajo County reported 1,421 cases, while Apache County reported 1,121, Coconino County reported 972, Pinal County reported 732, Yuma County reported 475, Mohave County reported 277 and Yavapai County reported 273. 

Santa Cruz County reported 123 cases, Cochise County reported 51, La Paz County reported 40, Gila County reported 22, Graham County reported 21 and Greenlee County reported three, according to state numbers.

The Navajo Nation reported a total of 4,253 and 146 confirmed deaths as of Wednesday evening. The Navajo Nation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

The Navajo Nation has issued an emergency order requiring all individuals to wear masks in public and will enforce its seventh 57-hour curfew this coming weekend in order to slow the spread.

151 cases in Arizona prisons

The Arizona Department of Corrections' online dashboard said 151 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Wednesday. The cases are at these eight facilities: 69 in Florence, 39 in Yuma, 25 in Tucson, nine in Marana, five in Eyman, two in Phoenix, one in Perryville and one in Kingman.

The department had tested 868 inmates, with 565 negative cases and 152 pending out of a total population of 41,253.

Six inmate deaths are under investigation, with one death at Florence determined to be directly or indirectly the result of COVID-19. Five other deaths, four at Florence and one at Tucson, are preliminarily attributed to COVID-19. Forty-five inmates have recovered. 

Sixty-nine staff members have self-reported positive for the virus, and 49 have been certified as recovered, the department said. 

Both legal and nonlegal visitations have been suspended through June 13, at which point the department will reassess. Temporary video visitation will be available to approved visitors and inmates who have visitation privileges, the department announced. Inmates are eligible for one 15-minute video visit per week. CenturyLink also is giving inmates two additional 15-minute calls for free during each week visitation is restricted.

Reach the reporter at Alison.Steinbach@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-444-4282. Follow her on Twitter @alisteinbach.

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