Update: More than 3,000 new COVID-19 cases, 3rd day in row for Arizona

UPDATE, Sunday:

Arizona health officials on Sunday reported more than 3,000 additional COVID-19 cases for the third consecutive day.

The state’s coronavirus dashboard reported 3,052 additional cases and two more deaths, increasing the pandemic totals to 965,462 cases and 18,464 known deaths since the pandemic began more than a year ago.

Arizona reported 3,225 cases Friday along with 23 deaths and 3,418 cases and 27 deaths on Saturday.

Before Friday, Arizona last reported more than 3,000 additional COVID-19 infections six months ago on Feb. 9.

The Department of Health Services added 125 cases and no deaths to Yavapai County's tally.

The numbers of hospitalizations and additional deaths remain far below those seen during the surges last summer and last winter in Arizona.

However, current case levels are beginning to approach the 2020 summer surge’s daily highs while remaining far below those of the winter

Hospitalizations in the state related to COVID-19 have nearly tripled since the end of May.

The dashboard also showed that more than 3.8 million Arizonans (54.1% of the state’s population) have received at least one dose of vaccine and over 3.4 million are fully vaccinated (47.5% of the population).

The nationwide rates are 59.4% with at least one dose and 50.5% fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ORIGINAL POST:

Arizona on Saturday, Aug. 14, reported nearly 3,500 new virus cases – following more than 3,000 more on Friday.

The state's coronavirus dashboard reported 3,418 additional cases on Saturday, and 27 deaths, on top of Friday’s 3,225 additional cases and 23 more deaths – increasing the state's pandemic totals to 962,410 cases and 18,462 deaths.

Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) last reported at least that many additional cases on Feb. 9 when it reported 4,381 cases.

ADHS on Saturday added 131 cases and two deaths to Yavapai County’s tally, in addition to Yavapai County Community Health Services reporting Friday 318 COVID-19 cases and two deaths since Tuesday, Aug. 10.

YCCHS stated Friday the county has tested 131,707 residents for COVID-19 and there have been 21,609 positive cases and 555 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

Dignity Health-Yavapai Regional Medical Center reported Friday 39 COVID-19 patients (32 in Prescott and seven in Prescott Valley), Verde Valley Medical Center reported 20, and the Prescott VA had two COVID-19 patients.

The state's seven-day rolling average of daily new cases rose over the past two weeks from 1,507 on July 28 to 2,547 on Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

CHILDREN & COVID

As of Aug. 5, nearly 4.3 million children across the nation have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic. Almost 94,000 cases were added the past week, a continuing substantial increase, the YCCHS reported. After declining in early summer, child cases have steadily increased since the beginning of July.

Banner Health, Arizona's largest health care system, admitted 71 COVID-19 positive pediatric patients in July, which was double the number it admitted in June, Banner's chief clinical officer, Dr. Marjorie Bessel, said during a briefing this week.

It’s rare for a child to experience severe COVID-19 infection, but it can happen; thus, the reason to control the spread in our schools as much as possible.

Will Humble, executive director of Arizona Public Health Association, said in his blog, “Identifying COVID cases early and removing infected kids and their unvaccinated close contacts can prevent cascades of classroom cases and improve the chances for in-person school.

“Federal funds allow schools to do both diagnostic testing of symptomatic kids and staff and surveillance screening testing to help schools identify infected individuals without symptoms so they can take action to prevent further transmission.”

YCCHS has been providing schools with the BinaxNOW at-home testing kits, and area schools can contact the health department for theses free test kits.

What should I do if my child has symptoms of COVID-19? Call your doctor if your child has a fever, cough, trouble breathing, sore throat, or just doesn't feel well.

If your child has been near someone with coronavirus or been in an area where lots of people have it, tell the doctor. Talk about whether your child needs a test for coronavirus and/or the flu. Please do not send them to school!

INFORMATION & TESTING

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or what seems to be a bad cold, please get tested for COVID-19.

For a list of testing sites, visit https://yavapaiaz.gov/Portals/39/COVID-19/TestingSitesinYavapaiCounty.pdf.

The best way to avoid getting infected is to get vaccinated. The vaccines are safe, effective, and free. Following are the best sources to contact to make an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccines:

• YRMC: https://www.yrmc.org/support-and-community/covid-19/covid-19-vaccinations

• Spectrum Healthcare: https://www.spectrumhealthcare-group.com/vaccine/ - 877-634-7333 or 1-844-943-8273 for the Anywhere Care team come to your home.

• Yavapai Community Health Services - 928-771-3122 for appointments. Vaccine Information Page: https://yavapaiaz.gov/chs/Home/COVID-19/COVID-19-Vaccine-Appointments

• Community Health Center of Yavapai - 928-583-1000

• www.vaccine.gov

Information provided by the Yavapai County Community Health Services.


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