The Arizona Department of Health Services reports no additional deaths overnight due to the new coronavirus.

The latest numbers on Monday, April 27 show 6,716 cases and 275 deaths in Arizona. That equates to a 10.1% case-to-testing ratio and 4.1% death-to-case ratio.

According to AZDHS, 16% of cases are hospitalized.

Current hospital bed usage is at 76% while only 28% of ventilators are in use.

Over the weekend, the case count in the 85375 ZIP code — which includes Sun City West — showed 46 cases. Prior to then, only 6-10 cases had been reported in the area.

Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center is located within that ZIP code in Sun City West. Independent Newsmedia reached out to Banner Health on whether they are seeing more cases at its Sun Cities hospitals. The 85351 ZIP code that includes Sun City and Banner Boswell Medical Center shows 32 cases as of Monday.

“We are unable to share specific hospital data at this time,” spokeswoman Rebecca Armendariz stated in an email. “It is a fluid situation and these numbers are always in flux. I can tell you that we do have capacity to treat those who require hospitalization for COVID-19-related symptoms.”

According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, long term care facilities added 51 resident cases of COVID-19. MCDPH says 135 of 533 resident cases are hospitalized, with 74 of the county's 121 deaths.

Last week saw a major surge of deaths, with three days each counting 20 or more fatalities from the virus.

Officials said the recent surge in reported fatalities likely resulted from a boost in cases weeks ago and was expected to slow as hospitalizations leveled off, the Associated Press reports. That because it often takes weeks for patients to die once hospitalized.

For most people, the 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 vast majority of people recover.

More testing sites in Arizona, Colorado

According to a release, Banner Health has opened three new COVID-19 drive-thru collection sites this week and added lanes to its original sites, expanding capacity from 4,000 appointments per week to 13,500.

Those with concerns about COVID-19 symptoms or exposure can now call Banner Health at 1-844-549-1851 in Arizona or a Banner Health primary care clinic in Colorado to be screened and scheduled for an appointment.

Banner’s three new sites are in Phoenix; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Greeley, Colorado. The Phoenix collection site, located at the Arizona State Fairgrounds, is the health system’s largest operation. It can accommodate those who do not have vehicles.

Anyone who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever or dry cough, will qualify for testing at one of these collection sites. In addition, those with concerns of possible exposure will also meet criteria for testing in Arizona.

Banner only collects samples for molecular diagnostic testing at this time; antibody testing is not offered at Banner’s drive-thru collection sites. The diagnostic testing can detect current infection but is unable to determine if someone had a past infection that has resolved.

Banner’s drive-thru sites will not accept walk-ins. Everyone must be phone screened in advance and scheduled for an appointment. Those who arrive without an appointment will be asked to leave and call in to complete the phone screening process. This process is very important to ensure the safety of patients and health care workers.

Not giving up

Kristine Kollasch, owner of Fine Art & Creative Environments, is one of the lucky ones.

During a time when many artists are out of work, Ms. Kollasch has a few projects previously contracted including a public art project for the Happy Valley Road and Loop 303 bridge in north Peoria.

Countless other nonprofits and small businesses are struggling to survive due to the pandemic and some experts say many won’t make it. But there has also been a grand outpouring to stop that from happening and keep the local economy afloat.

Baseball blues in Arizona

Whether you’re a diehard who checks the box scores every day or just a casual fan, there’s one thing we can all agree on — everyone is missing the national pastime, baseball.

Like all other sports, Major League Baseball was basically ground to a halt last month amid the coronavirus outbreak across the globe. Spring training was in full swing, with games going both here in Arizona and in Florida loaded with baseball fans in the stands cheering on their favorite clubs. Many make it an annual trip to head to spring training but this year, those trips were cut short. Dealing with COVID-19 became the new normal and everyone was introduced to a new term — social distancing.

“It’s tough, but we’ve just got to be patient,” said John Wardlow, a Diamondbacks fan. “I just want to see some live baseball. I understand there won’t be fans in the stands but we can still enjoy it on television.”

Cases per 100,000 in Arizona counties

• Navajo: 566.2
• Apache: 503.6
• Coconino: 296.2
• Pima: 111.1
• Pinal: 77.6
• Maricopa: 77.1
• Santa Cruz: 64.5
• Others below 50 cases per 100,000

* Uses 2019 estimates from US Census Bureau and confirmed case counts from AZDHS