Over the weekend, the Arizona Department of Health Services released updated data from around the state.
As of Tuesday, March 31, state and private labs have conducted 19,371 COVID-19 tests in the state, 2.35 per 1,000 residents. There are just under 7.2 million residents in Arizona.
Of the tests, 1,289 came back positive for the coronavirus or about 6.65%, and 18,082 came back negative, or 93.35%.
More than half the tests, 12,267, have been conducted in Maricopa County, with 788 coming back positive — 6.42% — and 11,479 negative, 93.58%.
In Yavapai County, with a population of 232,386, public and private labs have conducted 594 tests, or 2.56 per 1,000, slightly lower than the state average. Of those, 21 have tested positive, or 3.54%, with 96.46% testing negative.
Of Arizona’s 15 counties, 13 have 91.67% or more of tests coming back negative.
The two outlying counties that have conducted tests where more than 10% of patients have tested positive are Coconino County, 23.75% and Navajo County, 18.38%.
Most of the positive cases in Coconino and Navajo counties have been on the Navajo Nation, and tracking contact in this rural and isolated area makes determining contact persons and sites easier.
In Coconino County, with a population of 147,275, labs have conducted 341 tests, or 2.31 per 1,000, lower than the state average. In the county, 81 have tested positive, or 23.75%, with 76.25% testing negative.
Of those who have tested positive as of March 30, one was under age 5, 33 were ages 5 to 19, 471 were 20 to 44 years old, 249 were between 45 and 54, 229 were ages 55 to 64 and 301 were 65 and older. The two older groups only cover nine years while the 20 to 44 covers a 24-year age difference, and the 65 and older group covers more than 40 years and are larger numerically. State numbers are not more specific.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the death rate for those who get the virus between 20 and 44 is 0.1% to 0.2%; under age 55 is between 0.5% and 0.8%. For those 55 to 64, 1.4% to 2.6%; ages 65 to 74, 2.7% to 4.9%; ages 75 to 84, 4.3% to 10.5%; and 10.4% to 27.3% for those over age 85. The CDC reports zero deaths for patients age 19 and younger.
People ages 20 to 44 have taken 8,464 tests, despite being 12.5 to 54.6 times less likely to be hospitalized or die from their virus than seniors, those over 65 have who have only taken only 3,165 tests.
The CDC also notes that coronavirus alone is often not the cause of death for patients with COVID-19. Most patients who have died also have comorbidities, such as coronary or pulmonary problems or are immunocompromised preceding COVID-19 infection. So while many of these patients are infected with COVID-19, the CDC states coronavirus is only a factor that weakens their immune system to the point where other serious pre-existing medical conditions result in fatality.
