Independent Newsmedia
The Arizona Department of Health Services is reporting more than 195,000 confirmed cases and 4,600 deaths of COVID-19.
As of Wednesday morning, there are 195,557 cases and 4,634 deaths of the novel coronavirus in Arizona, up 637 and 105 from Tuesday, respectively.
The number of cases could be higher because many people have not been tested, and some can be infected without feeling sick.
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health is reporting 130,285 cases and 2,702 deaths of the novel coronavirus.
Maricopa County shows a case rate of 2,907 cases per 100,000 residents, using 2019 population estimates. The state rate is 2,687. Santa Cruz County has the highest at 5,826 cases per 100,000 residents.
As of Wednesday morning, Arizona shifted back to the third-lowest R-naught in the nation at 0.84. The state previously had the lowest with a 0.77. Alabama currently has the lowest with 0.79. This is the average number of people who become infected by an infectious person. Less than 1.0 is ideal, officials say.
According to Johns Hopkins University data analyzed by The Associated Press, the seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Arizona decreased from 2,082 new cases per day on Aug. 4 to 883 new cases per day on Aug. 18. The rolling average of daily deaths during the same period dropped from 62 to 47.
The coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough for most people. The vast majority of people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 recover.
But for some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness including pneumonia, and death.