Arizona Reports Over 12,000 Coronavirus Cases, Breaks New Record

ARIZONA — Arizona broke a new daily record Tuesday when it reported 12,314 new coronavirus cases.

Those new cases and the 23 deaths reported by the Arizona Department of Health Services brings the state's totals to 378,157 cases and 6,973 deaths since the pandemic began.

Only 90 percent of ICU beds are available across the state. Arizona is now exceeding the number of coronavirus tests performed during the summer when it was considered a national hot spot.

Tuesday's numbers are likely higher due to delays in reporting from the weekend.

"Even with the increased number of tests being performed in new patients and overall total in Arizona, our percent positivity continues to increase," Dr. Cara Christ, the health department director, wrote in her Tuesday blog post. "This shows that COVID-19 is still actively circulating in our community. Everyone must take steps scientifically proven to reduce transmission: wear a mask and stay physically distant from others who do not live with you, stay home when you are sick, and wash your hands. Taking these steps will protect others and help us return to our normal day to day activities."

Christ's blog post also detailed the new data the state has begun reporting. Those new data points include the total number of newly reported tests, the total number of tests conducted overall, and the number of tests newly reported that day. The state's dashboard will now show the number of tests conducted per day and per county. It also displays the percent positivity using the results from all tests reported through electronic lab reporting.

While some cities have taken action to curb the increased spread, including Tucson, which implemented a citywide curfew Friday, Gov. Doug Ducey has declined to institute a statewide mask mandate or declare a stay-at-home order.

Instead, Arizona will focus on enforcement around the mitigation steps it already has in place, including limited capacity in restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theaters.

"I believe we should instead focus on accountability and enforcing the rules we have," Ducey told reporters at his Wednesday news conference.

The governor also announced Wednesday that the coronavirus vaccine will be free for all Arizonans. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are due in the state as early as Dec. 15, with health care workers and nursing home residents among the first in line to receive it.