Arizona Records Over 4K New Coronavirus Cases, Most Since July

ARIZONA — Arizona reported 4,123 new, confirmed coronavirus cases on Thursday — the most the state has seen in a single day since July.

The Arizona Department of Health Services also reported 19 additional deaths due to the coronavirus outbreak as the overall death toll rose to 6,384. The state’s case total cases increased to 287,225.

Arizona last topped 4,000 new cases in July during a summer surge that made the state a national hot spot after Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, relaxed business closings and stay-home restrictions.

Arizona’s outbreak lessened in August and September after local governments implemented masking mandates and Ducey instituted restrictions on some businesses.

The virus surged again in October and into November, with over 41,000 new cases reported since Nov. 1. State and public health officials cite school and business reopenings and public weariness with safety precautions.

Coronavirus-related hospitalizations have also increased, with just under 1,800 reported as of Wednesday. That is about three times as many as Arizona had in September and about half as many as at the summer surge’s peak.

Ducey, at a Wednesday news conference, warned that coronavirus cases are increasing at an alarming rate but the governor stopped short of implementing any new restrictions or imposing a statewide mask mandate, as Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman have called for.

“I want people to wear masks. Masks work,” Ducey told reporters. He noted that about 90% of the state’s population is already under mask mandates imposed by county and city officials.

However, Ducey said that the state would issue an an emergency order for wearing masks in schools and on school buses, provide voluntary coronavirus testing at airports in Phoenix, Mesa and Tucson, and allocate $25 million to bolster hospital staffing.

The emergency order for schools came Thursday morning, requiring all district and charter schools to immediately mandate the use of masks on school campuses and school buses, and during school-associated activities by all students, faculty, staff, contractors, and visitors.

“Keeping kids and teachers safe is one of our top priorities,” Ducey said in a statement. “This emergency measure issued by ADHS addresses the serious threat COVID-19 poses to our communities. It requires schools to implement the simple step of mask-wearing to reduce transmission and keep our kids safe.”

The number of reported 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.

According to data from The COVID Tracking Project and Johns Hopkins University analyzed by The Associated Press, rolling seven-day averages of daily new cases and testing positivity rate in Arizona rose over the past two weeks while the average for daily deaths declined.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.