COVID hospitalizations rise in Arizona; over 3,800 new cases
Coronavirus in Arizona - Latest case numbers for 12/2/20
FOX 10's Renee Nelson breaks down the latest COVID-19 data from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
PHOENIX - COVID-19-related hospitalizations continue to climb in Arizona as the state on Dec. 2 reported more than 3,800 additional known cases, well short of a record set Tuesday due to holiday weekend reporting delays.
COVID-19 hospitalizations reached 2,699 as of Tuesday, up more than 100 from Monday and included 642 patients in intensive care unit beds. COVID-19 hospitalizations in Arizona peaked around 3,500 during the state’s summer surge.
Health experts have said holiday travel and gatherings are expected to produce additional new cases and related hospitalizations over the next few weeks.
According to the state Department of Health Service’s coronavirus dashboard, 10% of all hospital acute-care beds and 10% of ICU beds remained available.
The dashboard reported 3,840 additional confirmed cases and 52 more deaths, increasing the state’s totals to 340,979 cases and 6,739 deaths.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
A day after reporting only 822 additional cases, Arizona on Tuesday reported 10,322 additional cases but officials said that daily increase was inflated by reporting delays over the extended Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new confirmed cases in Arizona rose over the past two weeks from 2,395 new cases per day on Nov. 17 to 4,324 per day on Tuesday, according to data from The COVID Tracking Project.
The rolling averages of daily deaths rose from 17.1 to 24.6 and the rolling average of the COVID-19 testing positivity rate increased from 15.9% to 22.9%.
Governor Doug Ducey will hold a news conference on Dec. 2 at 3:30 p.m. The governor will be joined by Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ.
The Tucson City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to establish a mandatory nightly curfew for three weeks beginning Friday in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The 10 p.m.-to-5 a.m. curfew prohibits residents from being on public streets or in public spaces unless traveling to work or performing other essential activities. Exempted from the curfew are public safety personnel, health-care professionals, essential workers and the homeless.
AP reporter Walter Berry contributed.
Health workers applaud these seniors defeated COVID-19
Across the world, health workers are applauding older individuals who've recovered from the novel coronavirus.
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
MAP: Worldwide interactive Coronavirus case data
MAP: Arizona Coronavirus cases by zip code
FULL COVERAGE: fox10phoenix.com/coronavirus
CDC: How coronavirus spreads, symptoms, prevention, treatment, FAQ
Arizona COVID-19 resources, FAQ: azdhs.gov/coronavirus
On CoronavirusNOW.com, you'll find extensive coverage about COVID-19, including breaking news from around the country, exclusive interviews with health officials, and informative content from a variety of public health resources.
RELATED:
- Coronavirus in Arizona: Latest case numbers
- Coronavirus: Symptoms, testing and how to prepare amid growing COVID-19 outbreak
- How coronavirus differs from flu: Symptoms to watch for
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.
RELATED: Is it the flu, a cold or COVID-19? Different viruses present similar symptoms
Right now there's one big difference between flu and coronavirus: A vaccine exists to help prevent the flu and it's not too late to get it. It won't protect you from catching the coronavirus, but may put you in a better position to fight it.
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.
Get breaking news alerts in the FOX 10 News app. It is FREE! Download for Apple iOS or Android.