Phoenix Coronavirus Update: 1,571 New Cases, 87 Deaths

PHOENIX — Arizona’s number of new coronavirus cases is dropping but the number of deaths is at its peak, as of Thursday. The Arizona Department of Health Services said 172 additional known COVID-19 deaths — the most in a single day — and 2,525 new cases on Thursday.

The state has now amassed 170,798 COVID-19 infections and 3,626 fatalities since the start of the pandemic.

Of the newly reported deaths, 78 are from the death certificate matching process, according to an ADHS tweet. The process allows public health officials to identify more COVID-19 deaths than case investigations alone would allow.

Maricopa County counted 1,571 new cases and 87 reported deaths on Thursday, shouldering the bulk of the state’s numbers. But the county reports that the numbers are “leveling off”, pointing to mask mandates and other efforts to curb community spread are working. Hospitalizations with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases have also declined since their peak at the beginning of July.

Many Arizona schools are set to start back this week as the pandemic continues to rage. Each school district in the state will need to open at least one school in-person starting Aug. 17, according to a joint announcement from Ducey and Superintendent Kathy Hoffman. Classes will be taught virtually until then.

In a Thursday afternoon press conference, Ducey announced that metrics for schools to use safely reopen for in-person classes will be released Aug. 7.

The governor also addressed the backlog of test results in the state; Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ said there are currently 29,000 backlogged tests. Calling out laboratory Sonora Quest, the governor said, "They need to step their game up."

Still, Ducey said Arizona is heading in the right direction and encouraged residents to "stay the course" with social distancing and mask-wearing. The number of ICU beds and ventilators is down across the state.

"Where we are today is dramatically different than where we were just a few weeks ago," he said.