ASU Sees Decline In Coronavirus Cases After Numbers Doubled

TEMPE, AZ — Arizona State University is seeing a decline in its number of coronavirus cases, even as the state's numbers continue to increase.

In its Nov. 19 update, ASU reported 58 positive cases among its staff members, which was a slight uptick from the 53 included in the last university update. The most recent data also showed that there are 289 total positive cases among the student body — not including online students. That number is down from the 396 that had been reported prior.

At least 52 students are in isolation on the Tempe campus; the other 1o are spread out among ASU's other three campuses.

But ASU's cases have almost doubled since the beginning of November. The school reported 91 students and 16 employees had active coronavirus cases on Nov. 2, reflecting the rise in Arizona.

The state reported 4,471 new cases and 43 confirmed deaths on Friday — the second highest reported in a single day since July. Hospitalizations and ICU stays are also high.

In response, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey encouraged all Arizona residents to wear masks, though he declined to issue a statewide mandate. Officials also released a strengthened mask mandate for students and staff members in schools. Additionally, testing sites will be located at all airports.

“I want people to wear masks. Masks work,” Ducey said during a Wednesday coronavirus briefing. He noted that about 90 percent of the state’s population is already under mask mandates imposed by county and local officials.

Dr. Joe Gerard, a health policy expect at ASU who has been tracking coronavirus cases, said the trends are ominous for hospitals and the staff who work in them. He noted that new case counts, test positivity and hospital usage are the highest since June and appear sure to head even higher.

“When you think about how strained our hospitals are, they’re in a really difficult position right now,” Gerard said. “These conditions again are expected to deteriorate.′

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.