Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Arizona reached 802,198 on Thursday, Feb. 18, an increase of 1,143 from the previous day, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

With the COVID-19 vaccine being implemented, Arizona is finally starting to see the number of cases level off. Arizona recorded 238,176 new cases in January, an average of 7,683 new cases per day and 31 percent of the total number of COVID-19 cases in Arizona since the start of the pandemic. But February is showing signs of hope. The state has recorded 43,791 so far in February, an average of 2,433 cases per day — a 66 percent drop from the average number of new cases per day in January.

Meanwhile, the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 cases in Arizona stands at 15,276 after 213 new deaths were reported. But 6,558 of those deaths — 42 percent of the total — have come since Dec. 30, 2020.

A top Arizona health official said the number of COVID-19 cases in the state is “definitely trending in the right direction,” but he cautioned that “we need to keep following guidelines.”

“We need to keep wearing masks, and we need to keep staying separated,” Dr. Joshua LaBaer, the director of the Arizona State University Biodesign Institute, said at his weekly briefing.

Cronkite News has been tracking the progress of the disease since the first case was reported in the state in late January. This chart, which looks at new cases and deaths reported by the Arizona Department of Health Services, is updated daily.

COVID-19 is a serious disease that can be fatal in anyone, especially our elderly population and people with underlying health conditions. ADHS advises everyone to take precautions:

The best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Wear a mask when you are in close proximity to other people.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then immediately throw the tissue in the trash.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

COVID-19 spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms are thought to appear within two to 14 days after exposure and consist of fever, cough, runny nose, and difficulty breathing. For people with mild illness, individuals are asked to stay home, drink plenty of fluids, and get rest. For people with more severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath, individuals are advised to seek healthcare.

ADHS activated its Health Emergency Operations Center on January 27th after the first case of travel-associated COVID-19 was confirmed in Arizona. The Health Emergency Operations Center remains open to coordinate the State’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. For more information about the COVID-19 response in Arizona, go online to azhealth.gov/COVID19.