Arizona reports nearly 500 new virus cases, 12 deaths
Yavapai County reports 82 cases over past week

Arizona health officials on Saturday, May 15, reported nearly 500 new COVID-19 cases and a dozen new deaths as coronavirus cases continue to remain fairly steady amid growing vaccination rates.

The state Department of Health Services reported 474 new cases, bringing the total since the pandemic began hitting the state early last year at 872,496. The 12 new deaths brought the total number tallied in Arizona to 17,459.

Daily case numbers in Arizona have ping-ponged within the 400 to 600-plus range for the past week. The number of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 rose slightly to 595 on Friday. The number of those in an ICU dipped to 188.

Yavapai County health officials reported on Friday an increase of 82 cases since May 10, for an average of 20 cases per day. The county has tested 116,068 residents for COVID-19 with 18,995 positive cases and 504 deaths.

Yavapai Regional Medical Center reports 10 COVID-19 patients, Verde Valley Medical Center reports seven, and the Prescott VA has one COVID-19 patient.

Pima County officials on Friday dropped their mandatory mask mandate for fully vaccinated people in line with new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tucson's mayor will ask the City Council to do the same in the coming days. Mask ordinances in Phoenix and other cities remain in place but are likely to be eased as well.

The state reported nearly 20,000 vaccinations on Friday, and more than 5.4 million doses have been administered so far in the state. More than 3 million, or 43% of the eligible population in Arizona, have received at least one dose. Over 2.5 million people are estimated to be fully vaccinated.

Public health officials expect the demand for doses to rise with 12-15-year-olds eligible as of Thursday.


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