By Mark Carlisle
Twitter: @mwcarlisle

Maricopa County had its highest number of new cases in a week and half Tuesday and topped 350 cases in a day for the seventh time this month.

County public health data showed 359 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday and eight new virus deaths.

County cases and deaths have been returning to the levels they were at before the summer surge. COVD-19 cases peaked in the county in late June and early July, according to data from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, reaching 3,825 cases in a day on June 29. In recent days, cases have been trending slightly upward. The county’s seven-day daily average of new cases was 193 on Friday, Sept. 11 but increased to 280 by Tuesday, Sept. 22, the most recent day of complete data. It is the county’s largest rise in the seven-day average since mid-July when numbers began to decline from the county’s peak. The seven-day case average saw its first drop — of two cases — in 10 days on Sept. 21, but it rose again Sept. 22 by two cases.

The county’s surge in coronavirus-related deaths has lagged a couple weeks after the surge in cases, as is typical with COVID-19 reporting. The county’s worst single-day death total was 66 on July 15. Daily death totals declining steadily but have not declined to the level they were at before the county’s surge. In the most recent day of complete data, Saturday, Sept. 12, the seven-day daily average was eight deaths a day. The seven-day death average has remained below 10 for 10 days, the first time since early June.

Mark Carlisle
Associate Editor | Phoenix
@mwcarlisle

mcarlisle@iniusa.org

Meet Mark

Mark Carlisle joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, covering Glendale. He has since moved to the Daily Independent team, primarily covering the city of Phoenix along with other topics affecting the Valley at-large.

Community: Mark enjoys taking his young son to BabyTime at the Phoenix Public Library, to the OdySea Aquarium and to various sporting events around the Valley.

Education: Chapman University with a BA in English Journalism and one in Screenwriting.

Random Fact: Mark worked at a tuxedo shop in college. Just don’t ask him to tie a bowtie.

 

Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, son and dog, watching sports and TV shows, listening to audiobooks and occasionally writing fiction or designing a board game.