/ Modified nov 22, 2022 2:45 p.m.

COVID numbers rising in Arizona again

Most of the state is considered having a medium transmission rate.

coronavirus hero COVID19
CDC

The federal Centers for Disease Control reports that the COVID rate in Pima County is about 170 cases per 100,000 residents.

Health officials said the number is probably much higher.

"That number is probably under-reported and that's because if you do a home test and you're positive while you can report to a county health department the vast majority of individuals are not reporting. So, in some ways what we are seeing is the tip of the iceberg," said Dr. Theresa Cullen, Pima County Health Director.

Cullen said the rise in COVID numbers tracks with the increase in cases of the flu and RSV. She also said the uptick in cases tracks with Pima County's history.

"We know that December and January have not been kind to Pima County in terms of COVID. We've seen significant rises of COVID infection during that time period. I have no reason to anticipate that's not gonna happen again. So I am concerned that we are going to continue to see a rise in COVID, a rise in flu, a rise in RSV cases for the next four to six, perhaps eight weeks," she told reporters.

The CDC rates Pima County as having a low community transmission rate for COVID-19. Santa Cruz and Graham Counties are also in the low range.

The rest of Arizona is considered to have a medium transmission rate, according to the CDC, except Gila and Navajo Counties which have high transmission.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona