PHOENIX (AP) – Arizona on Tuesday reported 79 additional deaths from COVID-19 but health officials said two-thirds of the increase resulted from analysis of deaths not previously attributed to COVID-19.
The Department of Health Services on Tuesday had reported additional 42 deaths.
Department spokesman Chris Minnick said 53 of the additional deaths reported Wednesday were identified as caused by COVID-19 through analysis of an accumulation of death certificates. The last such analysis of an accumulation of death certificates occurred in May, he said.
The department on Wednesday reported 1,795 additional cases, raising Arizona’s total to 59,974. The increase was smaller than those reported on other recent days, including a record 3,591 Tuesday.
The department reported 2,270 people were hospitalized Tuesday because of COVID-19, up from 2,136 Monday.
The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care beds dropped to 581 Tuesday from a record 614 Monday.
Arizona has emerged as a hotspot since Gov. Doug Ducey lifted stay-home orders in May.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for some – especially older adults and people with existing health problems – it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
