LIVE information updates on COVID-19 pandemic

The trend of relatively lower COVID-19 case reports over the past week continues across Arizona. The state reported 638 new cases and no new known deaths on Monday.

The state’s seven-day average for newly reported COVID-19 cases was 878 on Monday, according to state data. It reached 9,800 in January.

The state’s seven-day death rate per 100,000 people ranked 13th in the nation on Sunday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Arizona’s known COVID-19 death toll remained at 16,553 as no deaths were reported on Monday. Few new deaths are typically reported on Mondays.

The state’s COVID-19 death and fall rates since January 21, 2020 remain among the worst in the country.

Follow the coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic by reporters from the TODAY Network of the Republic and the USA.

Monday, 4:45 p.m .: Pima County expands immunization eligibility to people with disabilities who are cared for at home

The Pima County Health Department, southern Arizona, announced Monday that it is extending eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines to people with disabilities and high-risk diseases who receive long-term care services at home.

The health department is “committed to eliminating inequalities to ensure that vulnerable and disproportionately affected people have priority for vaccination,” a Pima County press release said.

“Adults 18 and older who live with disabilities (physical, mental / developmental, mental and / or sensory health) and / or high-risk conditions who receive long-term care at home can now be vaccinated.”

Pima County officials say long-term home care services under their new guidance include caregiver care, personal hygiene, or the hospice provided by a home care provider or home health agency.

Monday’s announcement comes less than a week after a bipartisan group of 13 lawmakers, led by Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, wrote a letter asking Arizona Governor Doug Ducey to help people with disabilities to allow them to receive the COVID-19 vaccine now instead of waiting for their age group to open up.

Since Arizona switched to adopting an age-based vaccine this month, members of the disability community have been angry at how age-related rules exclude younger, high-risk disabled people.

The state vaccination centers vaccinate people aged 55 and over, but some counties still only vaccinate people aged 65 and over. The state assumes that people aged 45 and over will be eligible by April 1st.

Eligible individuals are not asked to provide evidence of their disability or high-risk disease status, district officials said. However, individuals may be asked to verify that they are receiving long-term care services at home at the time of vaccination, e.g. B. Proof of admission to a government disabled or long-term care program or a letter from a health care provider.

Pima County recently set up a call center to help people register and schedule vaccinations directly. The helpline number is 520-222-0119. Spanish speaking staff and telephone interpreters are available.

– Stephanie Innes

Monday, 1:40 pm: The University of Arizona plans to expand in-person tuition

The University of Arizona will allow classes of up to 100 students to meet in person from the 29th week of March due to the low number of COVID-19 cases, the school said on Monday.

The university started the spring semester with only the ability to meet key courses in person and, according to a statement, moved on Feb.22 to allow in-person courses with 50 or fewer students.

President Robert Robbins said in the statement that the low COVID-19 case numbers on campus made it possible to consider allowing 100 or fewer students to meet in class.

In the week of March 8, nearly 9,000 COVID-19 tests performed brought back 17 positive tests, which the university says corresponds to a positivity rate of 0.19%. The number of positive tests has decreased since January, when the university had nearly 200 positive cases in a week, according to the university’s COVID-19 dashboard.

– Audrey Jensen

Monday, 12:30 p.m .: State Farm Stadium delivers 500,000th vaccine

State Farm Stadium administered the 500,000th dose of vaccine for COVID-19, Governor Doug Ducey announced on social media Monday morning.

77-year-old Judith Beaulieu received this dose. According to Ducey, vaccinations at the State Farm Stadium account for nearly half of the 1 million vaccinations given to date at NFL stadiums.

He thanked the medical professionals, members of the National Guard and volunteers who have worked “day and night” since the website opened on January 11th.

Maricopa County also announced on social media that their PODs or distribution centers have so far administered 491,205 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

– Connor Van Luchten

Monday, 11:00 a.m .: Arizona adds 638 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths as the number of cases remains relatively low

Arizona reported 638 new COVID-19 cases and no new known deaths on Monday, continuing last week’s relatively low case reports.

The state’s seven-day average for newly reported COVID-19 cases was 878 on Monday, according to state data. It reached 9,800 in January.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID Data Tracker, Arizona’s case rate of seven days per 100,000 people ranked the 32nd Sunday among all states after ranking above first and second places for most of January.

The state’s COVID-19 death and fall rates since January 21, 2020 remain among the worst in the country.

The COVID-19 death rate in Arizona since the pandemic began is 227 deaths per 100,000 people on Saturday, according to the CDC. This puts it in a ranking that separates New York City from the state of New York in sixth place in the country.

Arizona’s rate of fall per 100,000 people since the pandemic began ranks sixth nationwide as of Sunday.

Arizona’s known COVID-19 death toll remained at 16,553 as no deaths were reported on Monday. Few new deaths are typically reported on Mondays.

A total of 833,381 COVID-19 cases have been identified across the state. Relatively few cases were reported in February and particularly in March.

Hospital admissions for the disease have been falling for about nine weeks.

– Alison Steinbach

Monday, 9:00 a.m .: VA offers vaccination appointments for veterans of all ages

Veterans Affairs Health Care announced that it has opened COVID-19 vaccination appointments for every enrolled veteran of all ages.

With an appointment, veterans can get the Pfizer vaccine at one of four VA locations in Phoenix:

  • 650 East Indian School Road, Phoenix; in the hospital from Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m.
  • 13985 West Grand Avenue, Suite 105, Surprise; in the clinic from Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • 3285 South Val Vista Drive, Gilbert; Transit, Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • 9250 West Thomas Road, Phoenix; Transit, dates available from March 20-21, March 27-28 and April 3.

The VA said registered veterans should call the COVID-19 vaccination schedule planning number at 602-604-3915. If not enrolled, veterans can do so online.

– Connor Van Luchten

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