Arizona added no new deaths over night as the state nears 9,000 cases of COVID-19.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, there are 8,919 cases and 362 deaths of the novel coronavirus. The number of cases increased by 279 from Sunday while deaths remained the same.

Of note, the last time no new deaths were reported was also on a Monday. Weekends usually see fewer cases/deaths due to less testing, but since Saturday, Arizona began its testing blitz in hopes of testing 10,000-20,000 people for three consecutive weekends.

Maricopa County is reporting 4,618 cases and 168 deaths. The state shows 4,751 cases in Arizona's most populous county.

Over 77% of Arizona's coronavirus deaths are in people 65+. That rises to over 91% when including people 55-64.

In addition, 770 cases of COVID-19 in Maricopa County are in residents at 119 long term care facilities, with 112 — or 66.67% — of the county's deaths.

Using 2019 population estimates, Arizona has a case rate of 122 cases per 100,000 residents.

Helping the homeless

While millions of Americans continue to shelter in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis, those living without shelter face special challenges.

City and county officials are meeting homeless people on the streets to assess their needs, while partnering with nonprofit groups who provide testing and care to protect those living outdoors, as well as the communities around which they reside.

The Maricopa Association of Governments, which coordinates the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s annual Point in Time count of homeless individuals locally, partners with municipalities across the Valley on one day early each year.

Police, city officials and volunteers get out into the communities, on the streets and even down into the riverbeds, to meet one-on-one and speak with those living outdoors and conduct a brief survey.

This year’s PIT effort, conducted throughout the county on Jan. 27, revealed a continuing trend of increasing homelessness — especially unsheltered homelessness.

Friday Flyover

In honor of frontline workers in the battle against COVID-19, several aircraft from Luke Air Force Base conducted a flyover above a majority of Valley communities on May 1.

The event included the 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing, along with the Arizona Air National Guard 161st Air Refueling Wing.