This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. The sample was isolated from a patient in the U.S. Dozens of research groups around the world are racing to create a vaccine as COVID-19 cases continue to grow. (NIAID-RML via AP)
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona on Wednesday reported over 5,600 additional COVID-19 cases and nearly 200 more deaths as hospitalization levels from the surge remained high but didn't set records.
The Department of Health Services reported 5,629 additional known cases and 191 deaths, increasing the state's pandemic totals to 641,729 cases and 10,673 deaths.
In Pima County, there have been 85,256 cases of coronavirus, up 830 from the previous day. There have been 1,335 deaths in Pima County, up 24 from the previous day.
Arizona had the worst state COVID-19 diagnosis rate over the past week, with one of every 105 people being diagnosed with COVID-19 from Jan. 5 to Tuesday. The rate is calculated by dividing a state's population by the number of new cases over the past week.
According to the state's coronavirus dashboard, 5,055 COVID-19 patients occupied inpatient beds as of Tuesday, down from Monday's record high of 5,082. There were 1,158 COVID-19 patients in intensive care beds, down from Monday's record of 1,183.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher than reported because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
TMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
Clifford Daigler, registered nurse, receives a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Tucson Medical Center, 5301 E. Grant Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020. TMC administered 1,100 total vaccines between their two clinic sites in the first day of vaccinations, said Claudia Koreny, director of pharmacy for TMC.
TMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
Carolyn Salazar, registered nurse and certified COVID-19 vaccinator, prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at Tucson Medical Center, 5301 E. Grant Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020.
UMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
Melissa Zukowski, medical director of emergency department at Banner-University Medicine Tucson, receives the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Banner-University Medicine North, 3838 N. Campbell Ave., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020.
UMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
After receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, Melissa Zukowski, medical director of emergency department at Banner-University Medicine Tucson, gives a thumbs-ups to her daughter Sophia Smallwood, left, at Banner-University Medicine North, 3838 N. Campbell Ave., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020.
TMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
Pamela Aronson, registered nurse and certified COVID-19 vaccinator, administers a COVID-19 vaccine at Tucson Medical Center, 5301 E. Grant Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020.
UMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
Iris Delfakis, oncology nurse navigator for Arizona Cancer Center, looks to other nurses as she waits to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by registered nurse Cristina Torres at Banner-University Medicine North, 3838 N. Campbell Ave., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020. The first round of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccines are given in Pima County to healthcare workers at Banner-University Medical Center and Tucson Medical Center. "I am way excited and I really believe in the science," said Delfakis. It was like a poke and that was it, added Delfakis.
UMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
Amy DeCamp, center, pediatric nurse navigator, talks to Iris Delfakis, oncology nurse navigator for Arizona Cancer Center, about Delfakis's COVID-19 vaccine card after Delfakis received the first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Pima County at Banner-University Medicine North, 3838 N. Campbell Ave., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020.
TMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
Pamela Aronson, right, registered nurse and certified COVID-19 vaccinator, administers a COVID-19 vaccine to Kurt Drezdon, registered nurse, at Tucson Medical Center, 5301 E. Grant Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020.
UMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
Registered nurse Cristina Torres, prepares critical care doctor and ICU medical director of Banner-University Medical Christian Bime's arm before administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Pima County at Banner-University Medicine North, 3838 N. Campbell Ave., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020.
UMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
Amy DeCamp, pediatric nurse navigator, shows the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Banner-University Medicine North, 3838 N. Campbell Ave., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020.
UMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
Steve Patalsky, left, associate director of pediatric bone-marrow transplant, goes over information about the COVID-19 vaccine with Sayea Jenabzadeh, nurse anesthetist, inside the COVID-19 vaccine observation stage at Banner-University Medicine North, 3838 N. Campbell Ave., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020.
TMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
Mary Couzens, left, registered nurse in the outpatient hospice unit, gets instructions about where to go for her vaccine from Flo Personeus, registered nurse, at Tucson Medical Center, 5301 E. Grant Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020. "I was nervous at first but I did some research and the benefits out way the risks," said Mary Couzens, outpatient hospice unit registered nurse.
TMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
Amy Lopez, left, registered nurse in peri-operative service, and her husband Dr. Mike Lopez, anesthesiologist, talk while waiting for their 15 minutes observation period after receiving their COVID-19 vaccine at Tucson Medical Center, 5301 E. Grant Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020. "It felt like a normal shot," said Amy Lopez. When asked if they were nervous, Dr. Mike Lopez answered "I was ready to be patient one."
TMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
Tucson Medical Center healthcare workers wait for 15 minutes after receiving their COVID-19 vaccine at Tucson Medical Center, 5301 E. Grant Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020. After receiving the vaccine, healthcare workers were required to wait 15 minutes to make sure they didn't have any reactions to the vaccine.
TMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
Clifford Daigler, left, registered nurse, laughs behind his mask with Pamela Aronson, registered nurse and certified COVID-19 vaccinator, after receiving a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Tucson Medical Center, 5301 E. Grant Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020.
TMC workers get COVID-19 vaccine
Samantha Penn, pharmacist, waits in line with other healthcare workers while people get checked-in for their COVID-19 vaccination appointments at Tucson Medical Center, 5301 E. Grant Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Dec. 17, 2020.
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