Arizona reports 55 more deaths, toll passes 20K milestone

Name: Prospect of multi-disease pandemic this winter has doctors worried
Uploaded: 2021-10-01T12:43:56-07:00
Description: With fall arriving and a predicted surge in COVID-19 cases by doctors, there are worries that the country will face a multi-disease pandemic of COVID, flu, and other illnesses. FOX 10's Stephanie Bennett reports.

Prospect of multi-disease pandemic this winter has doctors worried

With fall arriving and a predicted surge in COVID-19 cases by doctors, there are worries that the country will face a multi-disease pandemic of COVID, flu, and other illnesses. FOX 10's Stephanie Bennett reports.

PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona’s reported COVID-19 death toll passed the grim milestone of 20,000 amid the state’s third virus surge, which has started easing but continues to strain hospitals.

The state reported 55 additional deaths as well as 3,642 additional confirmed cases Friday, increasing the pandemic totals to 20,039 deaths and 1,097,225 cases, the state’s coronavirus dashboard reported.

Arizona is currently 11th highest among states in the number of COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began and sixth in the number of deaths per 100,000 population.

The state’s pandemic toll passed 10,000 deaths on Jan. 9 during the peak of the winter surge, the second of three and the worst in cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

Arizona passed another unwelcome COVID-19 milestone just over a month ago when the state reported its total number of cases had reached 1 million on Aug. 27.

The current surge has seen the state’s hospital system being burdened again with large numbers of patients. As of Thursday, 1,756 COVID-19 patients occupied hospital beds.

MAP: Arizona Coronavirus cases by zip code

That’s below the latest surge’s peak of 2,103 on Sept. 11 and far below the winter high of 5,082 on Jan. 11.

However, many health workers are wearied by the recent influx of unvaccinated virus patients when hospitals also are caring for many non-COVID-19 patients, including some who had procedures delayed earlier in the pandemic.

Anticipating the passing of the 20,000-deaths milestone, Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association and a former state Department of Health Services director, on Thursday said policy decisions by Gov. Doug Ducey and a now-former DHS director were responsible for about half of the state’s COVID-19 deaths.

Humble pointed to Washington state, which has a population about the same size as Arizona, but only 7,654 virus deaths as of Thursday. "The difference? They have a thoughtful governor & health director," Humble said on Twitter.

Ducey has insisted he has used a balanced approach during the pandemic, taking steps to curb the spread of the virus while seeking to protect the state’s economy.

A Ducey spokesman on Friday did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the deaths milestone and Humble’s criticism. But the governor’s COVID-19 advisor expressed sorrow, called for unity and urged the public to get vaccinated and take other recommended precautions against COVID-19.

"Come together for the greater good. This is what Americans have always done in wartime." Dr. Richard Carmona, a former U.S. surgeon general, said in a blog post.

The COVID-19 deaths are tragic, and emotion attached to the milestone is understandable, Carmona said.

"I’m heartbroken for the families and friends they leave behind. I’m frustrated and angry beyond words that COVID-19 still threatens not just lives but our economy, our jobs, our access to healthcare, our children’s chances at the best possible education, and our way of life."

While Ducey’s administration has promoted vaccinations, masking, testing, and social distancing to combat the virus’s spread, he opposed efforts to require masking. He also came under fire for relaxing restrictions on businesses and public gatherings last summer.

FULL COVERAGE: fox10phoenix.com/coronavirus