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Arizona with 24 coronavirus deaths as cases near 1,300

Phoenix among cities closing park amenities

Posted 3/30/20

Arizona is approaching 1,300 cases of COVID-19 after the latest release of numbers across the state.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, there are 1,289 cases and 24 deaths in …

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Arizona with 24 coronavirus deaths as cases near 1,300

Phoenix among cities closing park amenities

Posted

Arizona is approaching 1,300 cases of COVID-19 after the latest release of numbers across the state.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, there are 1,289 cases and 24 deaths in the state.

The state shows Maricopa County with 788 cases, although the county itself is reporting 791. 

Over 19,300 tests have been conducted, according to the state.

All counties are reporting cases of the coronavirus, subjecting them to a recent order calling for the shifting of restaurants to takeout-option only and closing multiple other types of businesses.

Gov. Doug Ducey on Monday, March 30 announced a stay-at-home order effective 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 31.

Essential services and businesses will remain open. That includes grocery stores and pharmacies.

The city of Phoenix became one of the cities in the Valley to close playground equipment at parks. Surprise, Gilbert, Tempe and Mesa are among them.

Phoenix officials said the closure order for playground equipment also includes fitness equipment and basketball and volleyball courts in parks but that parks, including green spaces and walking areas, remain open.

State officials on Monday also announced that Arizona schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year. Some schools have already shifted to remote or online instruction.

Arizona has now received 75% of its Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) allocation, totaling more than 1.2 million medical supplies to date, according to the governor’s office. Earlier this month, Arizona was the first in its FEMA region to receive a SNS delivery.

“Our health professionals work day and night to care for Arizonans — and we are working to protect their health and safety,” Mr. Ducey stated. “Arizona is grateful to everyone working to protect public health and safety, including doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and first responders.”

The supplies are overseen by the AZDHS and will continue to be distributed by counties throughout the state.

So far, the SNS has provided to Arizona:

  • 181,260 N95 masks;
  • 532,500 surgical face masks;
  • 85,248 face shields,
  • 59,631 surgical gowns;
  • 361 coveralls; and
  • 431,438 latex, non-latex and nitrile gloves

The AZDHS was able to secure the last Federal Medical Station (FMS) to provide additional beds to the Navajo Nation. The Arizona National Guard deployed to the Nation and set up the FMS, providing an additional 50 beds and medical resources to the area.

The department is working with the Arizona Coalition for Hospital Emergency Response to provide $10 million dollars from the Public Health Emergency Fund for hospitals to acquire additional ventilators. The department signed a contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reactivate St. Luke’s Hospital in Phoenix to bring an additional 340 acute care and ICU beds to the state. This will increase Arizona’s capacity to treat high acuity COVID-19 patients, according to a release.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cases per 10,000 residents in each Arizona county

  • Navajo: 8.20
  • Coconino: 5.65
  • Apache: 2.23
  • Pima: 1.93
  • Maricopa: 1.76
  • Pinal: 1.34
  • Greenlee: 1.05
  • La Paz: 0.95
  • Yavapai: 0.89
  • Graham: 0.52
  • Santa Cruz: 0.43
  • Yuma: 0.42
  • Mohave: 0.33
  • Cochise: 0.32
  • Gila: 0.19

* Uses 2019 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau