Coronavirus Arizona Blog: Governor Looks At Reopening State

ARIZONA — The number of Arizonans who died after contracting the new coronavirus increased by nine, bringing the total number of deaths to 131 Tuesday, according to new numbers released by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

There were 3,806 cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, Tuesday. That's up from 3,702 known cases Monday.

The new numbers come as Arizona officials discuss the best way to reopen the state's economy. Gov. Doug Ducey said Monday he wants to reopen the economy as soon as possible, but not until it is "safe and healthy for people to do so."

Ducey said in a series of tweets that he is still looking at ending his stay-at-home order on April 30, but cautioned that will depend on the advice he gets from business leaders on when they can begin safely serving customers again.

"Arizonans’ efforts to physical distance and make responsible choices are working. It’s critical that we keep those efforts up as we plan for the future and a time when we can begin to return some normalcy to people’s lives," he tweeted.

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Arizona Department of Health Services data shows the new coronavirus is disproportionately affecting Native Americans. Older people and men are also dying in disproportionate numbers, according to the .

“This is data we are monitoring closely as it shows us where we need to focus our efforts to increase capacity,” the Department of Health Services said in a statement. “The information is now posted on our dashboard and demonstrates that right now, there is capacity within our health care system to handle an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations.”

State public health officials began reporting the race and ethnicity in coronavirus cases and deaths on Sunday. The expanded reporting also sorts cases by ZIP code and includes details on hospital and intensive care capacity. At last count, there were 1,023 intensive care beds in use and 984 intensive care beds still available. There were 365 ventilators in use, with 1,174 still available.

The data shows Native Americans make up 16 percent of Arizona coronavirus deaths, while comprising only about 4 percent of the state’s population, according to American Community Survey five-year estimates. But, health officials said, race is unknown for 63 percent of the cases of COVID-19 and 48 percent of related deaths.

The state health department data also shows 63 percent of those who have died are male.

U.S. Coronavirus Blog: Latest News Tuesday

The true number of cases of the new coronavirus is unknown. As of Tuesday, only 42,109 of Arizona’s 7.3 million residents had been tested for the virus.

Among the hardest-hit communities is the Navajo Nation, which spans 27,000 square miles across three states — northern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico and southern Utah — and has more than 150,000 members.

In Arizona Monday, there were at least 687 confirmed Navajo Nation cases — 345 with eight deaths in Navajo County, 253 with 21 deaths in Coconino County, and 89 cases and four deaths in Apache County.

Almost all of the Navajo Nation cases are in Arizona. As of Saturday, there were 206 cases in New Mexico and 11 in Utah.

The Navajo Nation imposed a 57-hour curfew over the Easter holiday weekend to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Travel into the reservation was also banned.

“You may be young and in good health, but this virus can infect anyone,” Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said in a news release announcing the curfew. “This is not to be taken lightly.”

The spread of the coronavirus in the Navajo Nation is traced to a March 7 rally by an evangelical church, Chilchinbeto Church of the Nazarene, the Navajo Times reported. More than a dozen people who attended the rally, many of whom are over 60 and have underlying health issues, became sick and infected their relatives.

Among factors that allowed the illness to spread with such speed is that several generations often live under the same roof.

“A lot of people usually go to the rally,” one member of the Nazarene church told the Navajo Times. “Thank God it was not a revival. That would have been (hundreds) of people!”

Some of those who became infected also attended rallies at Nazarene churches in LeChee and Kaibeto.

Below, read more about the coronavirus in Arizona:

Trails Popular; Social Distancing Isn't

Over the past three weeks, as stay-at-home orders went into effect in Arizona, search and rescue teams found themselves especially busy in Pima County. A surge of hikers are crowding trails in the Tucson area at a time when the normal dangers — such as dehydration, injury, and getting lost — are leading to a significant increase in rescue calls.

Students May Get A Prom After All

A two-day "Promchella" hopes to give Arizona high schoolers who missed their prom a second chance to party.

1st Coronavirus Patient Not Ready To Die

After spending a month in a hospital bed, including more than two weeks on a ventilator, the first Pima County resident diagnosed with the new coronavirus in Pima County has been discharged from Northwest Medical Center. Glen Reed, 57, is now testing negative for the virus that very nearly killed him.

AZ Congressman: Fauci Should ‘Move Along’

Arizona 5th District Congressman Andy Biggs says Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx don’t serve the best interests of the country.

Coronavirus Complicates Wildfire Season

With the growth of grasses upping fire risk, Arizona fire officials are developing strategies for safety to avoid coronavirus spread.

Phoenix Area Goodwill Stores Reopen

Arizona earmarked $2 million in state funding to put 400 Goodwill employees back to work.

Gun Sales Climb With Coronavirus Fears

Arizona gun shop owners say the only thing that has slowed a coronavirus-sparked buying spree is a shortage of inventory.

‘I Sit Here Crying’ As Mom Fights Alone

A Phoenix woman spoke for families across the country when she described the anguish of being unable to see her elderly mother, who was on a respirator at a California hospital.

Arizona Schools Get Most Coronavirus Aid

Arizona colleges and universities will get almost $200 million in aid from the $2 trillion CARES Act passed by Congress in response to the coronavirus crisis. The largest single payout in the nation to a public school goes to Arizona State University, and among for-profit institutions, Grand Canyon University will receive the largest grant in the country.

Ducey Order Splits Health Officials

While President Donald Trump touts an anti-malarial drug as a possible coronavirus treatment, Gov. Doug Ducey is allowing its use in limited circumstances in Arizona – dividing advocates over whether he's gone too far or not far enough.

‘We’re In Crisis Mode’: Nonprofits Hurt

Arizona nonprofit groups that provide food and shelter for low-income and homeless residents are struggling to keep up with demand.

'Accidental Grandma' Loses Husband To Virus

The husband of an Arizona woman who accidentally invited a teen and his girlfriend to Thanksgiving dinner four years ago has died. The mixup spawned a close friendship between the two families.

Travelers From 3 States Must Quarantine

Gov. Doug Ducey issued a series of executive orders, including one that requires travelers from three hard-hit states in the Northeast to quarantine for 14 days after arriving at an Arizona airport.

Projected Coronavirus Deaths In Arizona

The coronavirus pandemic could take as many as 570 lives in Arizona over the next four months, according to projections by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.