The COVID-19 Report for Nov 16, 2020

The United States continues to increase with 150,631 new daily COVID-19 cases and 709 deaths today, bring the total cases to 11,526,539 since January 2020.

Arizona is seeing an uncontrollable spread of the Coronavirus and Maryvale is hit especially hard with one out of every ten people testing positive. We continue to see an increase in case counts, hospitalizations, ICU beds in use, and ventilators in use.

Arizona reported 1,476 new cases today for a total of 276,912 cases since January. The hospitalization rate is at 8% for a total of 23,122 people hospitalized. ICU beds are running out with 374 COVID-19 patients taking up 22% of all ICU beds.

The mask mandate for Phoenix remains in effect and face coverings are required in all enclosed public spaces, buses, and trains.

Testing

The number of people seeking COVID-19 testing is on the rise again. Phoenix community partners are holding free COVID-19 testing sites on select dates. Pre-registration is required. Free to all community members.

As the pandemic increases testing slows down.

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy

This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for the investigational Monoclonal Antibody Therapy bamlanivimab for the outpatient treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients.

The U.S. government has purchased 300,000 doses of bamlanivimab and committed that Americans will have no out-of-pocket costs for the medicine, although healthcare facilities may charge a fee for the product’s administration.

COVID-19 Vaccine

Pfizer and partner BioNTech said that their vaccine against Covid-19 was 90% effective. Although extremely good news it should be taken with a grain of salt. The test period was only over a 7 day period. This is not very much data. It could be a fluke or it could be a very powerful vaccine. Without further testing, we cannot know.

Even if it is approved it would be a year before you and I will get it. So do not let your guard down.

As the positivity rate in Arizona rises, so does the risk to you and your family. Please protect them and reduce the spread of COVID-19 by:

• Wearing a mask
• Putting at least 6 feet of distance between you and others
• Avoiding all gatherings
• Wash your hands frequently
• Wipe down high-touch surfaces frequently
• Staying home if you can
• Seek medical care if you suspect you have COVID-19