What You Need to Know-Week of March 15th

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In this Update:

1. Urgent Updates: Transmission, Hospital Capacity, & Vaccine Information

2.  March Wellness Reminder – Hydrate for Health

3. Quick Question: What is the difference between N95 and KN95 masks?

4. Wellness Tips: Resilience and Coping Resource

 

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1. Urgent Updates: Transmission, Hospital Capacity, and Vaccine Information

 

Updated as of: 03-15-2021

Current Transmission Status: High, but decreasing

Transmission:

Compared to two weeks ago:

• Cases per day within Arizona have decreased by 14% 

• Deaths have decreased by 23%
• Hospitalizations have decreased by 41%

Currently, per every 100,000 Arizonans, 11,354 have been infected with the virus. 

In the past week, there has been an average of:

• 1,317 cases per day
• 58.2 deaths per day

View all data related to covid19 in arizona state

Current Hospital Capacity: High, but decreasing

During the past week, there were an average of 1,093 COVID-19 patients in Arizona hospitals.

• Currently only 15% of ICU beds, 11% of in-patient beds, and 58% of emergency department hospital beds across the state are available for any incoming admissions. 
• However, it is still important to remember that if you or someone else is experiencing a medical emergency, you should seek emergency medical care immediately.

View hospital capacity in arizona state

Vaccine Information:

• Over 2.3 million total Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been administered across Arizona! 
• The list below outlines the current age ranges being vaccinated in Arizona counties:

  • Counties vaccinating 65 and older

    • Mohave, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, Yuma

  • Counties vaccinating 55 and older

    • Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Graham, La Paz, Maricopa, Navajo, Pima, Pinal

  • Counties vaccinating 16 and older

    • Gila, Greenlee​​​​​​​

Use the resources below for more vaccination information:

see county vaccine distribution phases

view General information about COVID-19 vaccines

View frequently asked questions

sign up for Vaccine Program to schedule appointment

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Please continue to stay home and take the necessary precautions (e.g., practicing hand hygiene, physical distancing, and wearing cloth face coverings) to prevent COVID-19.

It is still important to take safety precautions even after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

2. March Wellness Reminder – Hydrate for Health

 

As we come up on the one-year anniversary of the pandemic in the U.S., we want to take this time to remind people to reconnect with your wellness. It is important to find moments in your week for self-care as we both process the difficult past year and prepare for the next one ahead of us. 

💧Wellness Tip of the Week: Hydration 💦

We all know that hydration is important, but it can be easy to forget that there are times when it is more important than ever. As you practice self-care during a pandemic, water can help support every part of your body and mind. In addition to physical health and immune function, hydration can also affect mood, energy levels, and even brain function. 

1. Find out how much water you should be drinking. The right amount for each person can vary based on age, health conditions, medications, activity levels, and even time spent outdoors. If you’ve never talked to your healthcare provider to get the best recommendation for you, this may be something worth doing!  

2. Track your water intake. Mark a clear water bottle with lines and what time you’d like to get to that line. Alternately, try using an app to track your water intake. Tracking your progress can help you stay accountable to your water goal and feel a sense of achievement.

3. Set reminders for yourself. Carrying a water bottle can be a visual reminder, or try setting an alarm on your phone. Other ways to help you remember are to create little rules, such as always drinking a full glass before you eat, or after every trip to the bathroom, or taking a sip every hour. Fitting the water into your normal routines can help build a long-term habit. 

4. Spice up your water. Try infusing fresh fruits and herbs into your water to add variety, such as lemon zest, cucumber, ginger, berries, mint, rosemary, lemon balm, and many more. If you often drink soda, try infused or naturally flavored carbonated water for a refreshing kick. 

 

3.  Quick Question: What is the difference between N95 and KN95 masks?

 

Short answer: N95 masks are reserved for healthcare workers, and KN95 masks are available for general use.

N95 and KN95 masks, also known as respirators, are made to very similar specifications and look basically the same. The main difference is that N95 masks must be certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the U.S.A., whereas KN95 masks are certified to meet similar standards in China, and then may be licensed for use in the U.S.A. N95 masks have been reserved since the beginning of the pandemic for healthcare workers as the highest level of protection available. However, non-NIOSH-approved KN95 masks have since been licensed and authorized for use by healthcare workers, as well as use by the general population. 

KN95 masks can offer a greater level of protection against respiratory droplets carrying the COVID-19 virus than disposable surgical masks, and are widely available. For tips on how to make your cloth face covering or mask more effective, see our March 8th update. If you are considering purchasing KN95 masks, please be careful of counterfeits, as there are many products on the market which do not meet the elevated safety standards required for KN95 masks. 

Find FDA-approved KN95 masks

 

4. Wellness Tips: Resilience and Coping Resource

 

Demonstrating continued resilience throughout the course of the pandemic has been, and continues to be, no easy task. The University of Colorado, Colorado Springs has developed a free, resiliency program called the Greater Resilience Information Toolkit (GRIT) that helps individuals cope with the pandemic and its many challenges.

see more information and to access the GRIT trainings

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The next update will cover information about cdc guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals. If you would like to learn more about this and other topics related to COVID-19 in Arizona, please complete next week’s AZCOVIDTXT survey that you will receive via text in about a week.