How AZ Compares With Other States: See Updated Coronavirus Data

ARIZONA — New White House data is offering additioal insight into the status of the coronavirus pandemic in Arizona, and how the state compares to others in the U.S.

The White House COVID-19 response has compiled state-by-state data throughout the pandemic, but the reports were kept private from the public under former President Donald Trump's administration. The reason for keeping them hidden, according to a report by the nonprofit Center for Public Integrity, was to encourage states to lead their own response to the pandemic.

All 52 state profile reports can be found online, including one for Arizona. Each report is updated weekly.

Here's how Arizona fared in this week's report, which was released Wednesday with data for 7 days ending Sunday:

Arizona reported 553 new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people, down from 685 the week before. That's still a little less than double the infection rate of the entire country, which currently boasts 324 new cases per 100,000 people. The U.S. Department of Health Services has said they would like that rate to be below 25. While that number is high, Arizona's infection rate is down 19 percent from the week before, which means the state continues to trend in the right direction.

(White House COVID-19 Team)

However, Arizona's death rate has increased and is more than double the national average. The state recorded 1,021 deaths for an average of 14 deaths per 100,000 people. In contrast, the U.S. recorded 22,555 deaths for a rate of 6.8 for every 100,000 people. Arizona's number is up 6 percent from last week, going in the wrong direction.

Elsewhere in the report, hospitalizations across the state a substantial 11 percent decrease week-over-week and the number of Arizona hospitals reporting supply shortages is down by 10 percent. This week's numbers improved upon last week's, reporting further decreases.

All but one of Arizona's 15 counties continue to be in the 'red zone' for test positivity and new cases with no change from the week before. The one exception is Greenlee, which is in the 'orange zone.' Maricopa and Pima Counties, the two largest in the state, also have the two highest infection rates.

Arizona's coronavirus testing is slightly better than the national rate and has increased from the week before by 6 percent. The state conducted approximately 239,119 lab tests last week for a rate of 3,285 for every 100,000 people. Last week saw a 23 percent decrease from the week before, according to the data, so Arizona's numbers are steadily improving. The national average is 3,085 deaths per 100,000 people.

Approximately 15.8 percent of all coronavirus tests are returning positive; the number is much higher than the national rate, which is 8.8 percent, but is still a small 2 percent decrease from last week.

The White House report ranks all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, based on their number of new cases per every 100,000 residents. Arizona took the second spot on this week's list, relinquishing its first place title for the first time in weeks. Alabama now has the highest infection rate in the U.S. Arizona was followed by Montana, South Carolina and Tennessee to round out the top five.

Arizona's coronavirus vaccination plan is speeding up with the addition of a second mass vaccination site in Phoenix this week. Pima County has also expanded its vaccine eligibility to anyone over the age of 70, which will help to get more shots into the arms of Arizonans.