Arizona and COVID-19: Winter 2023
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Arizona and COVID-19: Winter 2023
Dr. Howard J. Eng
Associate Professor Emeritus in Public Health (retired)
Going into the fourth year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States has passed the 100 million case and 1 million death numbers. This winter Arizona COVID-19 case numbers are significantly lower than last winter. Since January 19, 2023, the CDC reports all the state’s counties have been at low-risk transmission level including Pima County (see Figures 1 and 2).
Figure 1. CDC Community Transmission Level Map: January 19, 2023
Figure 2. CDC Community Transmission Level Map: February 9, 2023
The Arizona and Pima County weekly case numbers are lower than last year and plateauing (see Figures 3 and 4). The United States 7-day positivity rate is 10.65% (CDC – February 8). On January 29, the state and county positivity rates were 10% and 12%, respectively (AzDHS).
Arizona Weekly COVID-19 Cases: January 1, 2020 to February 4, 2023
Pima County Weekly COVID-19 Cases: February 1, 2020 to February 4, 2023
Johns Hopkins University reports 672,273,129 total cases and 6,848,748 deaths associated with COVID-19 in the world on February 8, 2023. There has been an increase of 1,259,246 cases during the past week (February 2 to 8). The U.S. has 102,737,726 cases and 1,113,236 deaths. In the previous week, there has been an increase of 276,241 cases.
Arizona and Pima County four-week COVID case, hospitalization, and death numbers shown on Tables 1 and 2. Most cases are mild or moderate, and few cases are severe (require hospitalization and/or result in death). The state and county weekly cases have been fluctuating.
The CDC reports 229,820,324 (69.2% of population) who completed their primary series (previously – fully vaccinated). 94.2% of the senior (65>) population (51,624,760) who completed their primary series, and 22,330,113 (40.8%) received their bivalent booster on February 8. There are 4,635,469 (63.6%) in Arizona and 733,659 (69.3%) in Pima County who are fully vaccinated (AzDHS – February 8).
COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risks of getting a severe case, but you can still get virus. Those who are high risk in getting a severe case need to get their COVID-19 and flu vaccines. If your vaccine protection is waning, you needed to get the Pfizer or Moderna new bivalent vaccine that include both the original virus and Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants to extend your immunity protection. The Pima County Health Department gives COVID-19 vaccines at home. The program telephone number is (520) 222-0119. You can call Monday – Friday from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Staying healthy will keep your immunity level high and will reduce the risk of getting a severe case. You can improve your mental and social health by expanding or re-establishing your social network by calling, texting, or emailing someone who you have not been in contact with since the beginning of COVID-19. During case surges, you need to wear a N95 or multi-layer face mask and practice social distancing in high COVID-19 risk situations (e.g., indoor low ventilated places with large crowds of people), make sure there is good ventilation and air circulation at home, change your home air filter(s) often, and stay home if you have the virus.
The Together We Thrive website (www.togetherwethrivecovid19.com) provides weekly updates on Arizona and counties transmission risk levels, state and Pima County weekly cases trends, and weekly COVID-19 health tips. The website also identifies COVID-19 resources and services. Upcoming TWT events post on the website.
Even with the periodic case surges, the numbers of severe COVID-19 cases and deaths in Arizona and Pima County remain low because of the high level of population immunity, the availability of drugs in treating the virus, and most Omicron variant cases are mild or moderate.
Be safe, and stay healthy, calm, and positive.
