Pima Health Director: Cases, Hospitalization, Deaths On The Rise

TUCSON, AZ — Pima County reported 229 additional cases of the new coronavirus on Wednesday, bringing the county's total to 6,318 cases. Also on Wednesday, the county reported 8 additional deaths, bringing the county's death toll to 255.

Statewide, 1,795 new cases and 79 additional deaths were reported on Wednesday, bringing Arizona's totals to 59,974 and 1,463, respectively, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

AZDHS said 53 of the 79 deaths reported Wednesday came from death certificate matching, a practice of retroactively adding past deaths to current "epi curve" charts, creating a fuller picture of when deaths actually occurred.

According to the AZDHS site, "there won’t be one spike of deaths on a single day, which allows for a more accurate picture of when COVID-19 related deaths truly occurred in Arizona and maintains consistency in the way the death data on the dashboard can be interpreted."

The health department said death certificate matching gives a more complete and accurate picture of deaths over time compared to reporting only deaths tracked and investigated by public health officials.

In a briefing Wednesday, Pima County Health Director Dr. Theresa Cullen said the county has seen a recent increase in cases, deaths and hospitalizations but that the county has adequate testing availability and personal protective equipment availability, especially for first responders.

Cullen said as case counts have grown, the health department's ability to investigate and track cases of COVID-19 has decreased. The health department is hiring more investigators.

In the briefing, the county health director implored residents to continue following department recommendations for social distancing and mask-wearing.

"We hope to see an impact from that within the next 10 to 14 days," Cullen said. "We urge you to be compliant and adhere to the guidance we have issued in the past."

Amid rising case numbers, Gov. Doug Ducey last week rolled out restrictions aimed at businesses and restaurants.

Businesses are now required to enforce social distancing and screen their employees for symptoms of COVID-19 prior to each shift. Restaurants are also now required to enforce social distancing and practice certain sanitization measures.

The new requirements mark Ducey's first issuance of requirements for businesses since his stay-at-home order expired in May.

"There will be enforcement, and they will be held accountable," Ducey said about Arizona businesses, according to The Arizona Republic.

Residents are discouraged from wearing N95 respirator-grade masks, but bandanas, cloths, scarves and non-medical masks are permitted.

The CDC recommends that masks be worn when in public settings, and research shows face coverings can drastically decrease the spread of the new coronavirus.