Arizona reports dip in new coronavirus cases; pace of deaths rises

Expert says latest COVID-19 wave may be coming to an end

An epi-curve provided by health officials in Arizona shows while the delta variant has caused a surge in COVID-19 cases in Arizona, cases have trended downward in the state, and one expert believes once Arizona comes out of the current surge, the COVID-19 crisis in Arizona may be a thing of the past. FOX 10's Jennifer Martinez reports.

PHOENIX - Arizona on Tuesday reported fewer than 2,000 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 for the first time in two weeks as the pace of the state’s pandemic death toll rose.

The additional 1,934 cases and 71 deaths reported on Sept. 21 increased the state’s pandemic totals to 1,070,757 cases and 19,584 deaths, according to the state’s coronavirus dashboard.

Virus-related hospitalization levels were below 2,000 for the fourth consecutive day, with 1,933 COVID-19 patients occupying hospital beds as of Monday, the dashboard reported.

The seven-day rolling average of daily deaths rose over the last two weeks, rising from 35.5 on Sept. 5 to 46.6 on Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

The rolling average of daily new cases dropped from 3,101 to 2,563.6 during the same period.

MORE: Coronavirus in Arizona: Latest case numbers

In order to protect yourself from a possible infection, the CDC recommends:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Monitor your health daily

Symptoms for coronavirus COVID-19 include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. These, of course, are similar to the common cold and flu.

Expect a common cold to start out with a sore or scratchy throat, cough, runny and/or stuffy nose. Flu symptoms are more intense and usually come on suddenly, and can include a high fever.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear more slowly. They usually include fever, a dry cough and noticeable shortness of breath, according to the World Health Organization. A minority of cases develop pneumonia, and the disease is especially worrisome for the elderly and those with other medical problems such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes or heart conditions.

To protect yourself, wash your hands well and often, keep them away from your face, and avoid crowds and standing close to people.

And if you do find yourself showing any of these flu or coronavirus symptoms - don't go straight to your doctor's office. That just risks making more people sick, officials urge. Call ahead, and ask if you need to be seen and where.