Arizona's new coronavirus cases increase to 919, deaths rise to 17

The number of identified new coronavirus cases in Arizona rose to 919 on Sunday — a roughly 18% increase from the day before, according to data released by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

The number of reported deaths related to COVID-19 also increased by two to a total of 17 on Sunday. The health department initially updated its data at 9 a.m. Sunday to reflect 912 identified cases and 16 COVID-19 related deaths. However, the data was then updated again to include the second death a short time later.

On Saturday, there were 15 deaths and 773 reported cases around the state.

The health department announced in a press release Sunday that its COVID-19 dashboard had been enhanced. The state previously provided only a limited scope of the cases. The new dashboard provides a more comprehensive view of the state's number of cases, breaking it down to the number of cases per week, age and gender.

The ADHS site now states that state and private laboratories have completed 13,872 tests for COVID-19.

Maricopa County had the largest number of identified cases with 545 while Pima County had 153 and Coconino and Navajo counties each had 62. Pinal County had 51, Apache County had 13, Yavapai County had 12, Mohave County six, Yuma County five, Cochise County had three and Gila County had one.

Yuma County officials announced Sunday afternoon that there are four more confirmed cases, bringing the county's case count to nine. The four new cases are all travel-related and all patients are in isolation, according to the county.

La Paz, Santa Cruz and Graham County each had two identified cases Sunday.

Greenlee County in southeastern Arizona has no reported cases.

By Sunday afternoon, Pima County had six deaths related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Maricopa County had five and Coconino County had two, according to their respective websites.

The Navajo County Public Health Services District announced in a press release Sunday that a person in their 60s who had underlying health conditions had died due to COVID-19.

It's unclear in which counties the state's other three COVID-19 related deaths occurred.

The Mohave County Department of Public Health reported its seventh identified COVID-19 case late Saturday. The case, located in the Kingman-area, was recovering at home and self-quarantined, a press release said.

Of the county's identified cases, four were in Kingman, two were in Lake Havasu City and one was in Bullhead City, the press release said.

The Navajo Nation reported late Sunday 128 identified COVID-19 cases. Its number of COVID-19 related deaths remained at two, according to a press release.

Of the Navajo Nation's identified cases, 59 were in Navajo County, 23 were in Coconino County and 17 were in Apache County, all located in Arizona, the press release said.

The Tohono O'odham Nation also announced in a press release Sunday that one of its tribal members tested positive for COVID-19. The person lives in Tucson, which is in Pima County.

According to the press release, 15 were in San Juan County, New Mexico, eight were in McKinley County, New Mexico, five were in San Juan County, Utah, and one was in Cibola County, New Mexico.

At a Wednesday press conference, state Health Director Dr. Cara Christ said that if infections continue at their current pace, illnesses would peak in April and hospitalizations would peak in May.

"Arizona is still in the opening stages of its COVID-19 outbreak, and the number of cases within the state will increase significantly," Christ said.

The state has seen over 6,600 Arizonans get tested, most of which have been done by private labs, Christ said at Wednesday's briefing.

Testing is limited to people in high-risk groups and those showing symptoms. The state is prioritizing health care and "critical infrastructure" workers.