What You Need to Know-Week of April 12th
The most important weekly updates for you to keep your community healthy
In this Update:
1. Urgent Updates: Transmission, Vaccine & Variant Information
2. Quick Question: Do I still need to get tested for COVID-19?
3. All Things Vaccines: Vaccines – Take Your Turn!
1. Urgent Updates: Transmission, Vaccine & Variant Information
Updated as of: 04-12-2021
Weekly case, death, and hospitalization counts: High and increasing number of cases
Compared to two weeks ago:
- Cases per day within Arizona have increased by 32%
- Deaths have decreased by 54%
- Hospitalizations have decreased by 17%
In the past week, there has been an average of:
- 631 cases per day
- 12.7 deaths per day
Remember: Cases usually increase prior to hospitalizations and deaths. As cases are increasing in Arizona, there may be an increase in hospitalizations and deaths in the coming weeks. Continue to take precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19!
View all data related to covid19 in arizona state
Vaccine Information:
- 22% of Arizonans are fully vaccinated, 32% of Arizonans have received at least one dose (of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine).
- Nearly 4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far in Arizona.
- Vaccines are now widely available for those 16 and older and many locations now have appointments available.
See updated vaccine information
Registering for a vaccination appointment:
- All available vaccinations are free to the public and do not require health insurance.
- Registration includes questions about your health insurance, but it is not mandatory to provide your insurance information.
- Vaccine appointments are becoming more available as supplies increase. If you had a hard time scheduling in the past, many more are now available.
sign up for Vaccine Program to schedule appointment
Use Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome as your browser for best usability.
- You can also check your local pharmacy for vaccination appointments.
Check vaccines in stock near you
See next week’s update for step by step instructions on how to register for and book a vaccination appointment!
Additional ways you can help the community:
- Volunteering at vaccination distribution sites is a fun and rewarding way to help out the community.
- There are simple and low risk opportunities such as directing traffic, asking screening questions, etc. that may be a great fit for you.
Use the resources below for more vaccination information:
see county vaccine distribution phases
view General information about COVID-19 vaccines
It is still important to take safety precautions even after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
Variant Information:
- The newer COVID-19 variants are being found at increasing rates across the world, including here in Arizona. Approximately half of all cases in Arizona are now the B.1.1.7 variant. This variant is more transmissible and associated with more severe illness. Importantly, previous infections may not protect as well for re-infection from some of these variants.
- The variants from Brazil, South Africa, and the United Kingdom are now in Arizona. In addition, there is a variant that was first identified in Arizona that likely originated here
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 spread.
2. Quick Question: Do I still need to get tested for COVID-19?
Only 19% of Arizonans are fully vaccinated, and for those who aren’t it remains vitally important to continue to get tested when appropriate to stop the spread of COVID-19 and ensure accurate reporting.
For all people who are not yet fully vaccinated (two weeks post second shot for Moderna and Pfizer and two weeks post J and J shot).You should still get tested for COVID-19 if:
- You have had an exposure to someone to who received a positive test
- Someone in your household received a positive test
If you received your final (or only) COVID-19 vaccination dose more than two weeks ago, you do not need to get tested after an exposure, unless you begin to feel symptoms. However, if you want to be extra cautious you might consider getting tested 5-7 days after exposure if you live with someone who is particularly vulnerable who hasn’t been vaccinated yet. You should still get tested 3-5 days after international travel.
- Even after being vaccinated, it is important to stay vigilant and watch for symptoms.
See CDC guidance on those who have been fully vaccinated
REMEMBER: symptoms like cough, shortness-of-breath, runny nose, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell are not symptoms of vaccination – these are symptoms of COVID-19. If you are experiencing these symptoms, go get tested – even if you have had the vaccine!
Also, it is important to remember to be extra cautious and take extra precautions (e.g., staying home, avoiding non-essential errands or travel, washing hands, and wearing a face mask) if you are immunocompromised or live with someone who is immunocompromised.
Antibody testing is currently available at the University of Arizona. Look out for our upcoming updates for more information about antibody testing!
3. All Things Vaccine: Vaccines – Take Your Turn!
Everyone is now eligible for a vaccine in Arizona 16 and over. It is highly encouraged to get the vaccine if you’re eligible. The vaccine is now widely available and while early on we prioritized first responders, healthcare workers, and vulnerable people, it is now the time for EVERYONE to get vaccinated. By getting the vaccine, you are doing your part to stop the spread of COVID-19. Getting as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible means taking your turn when you’re called!
- If you feel a bit guilty getting your vaccine when you know some people who haven’t had a chance yet, know you’re not alone. This is a normal feeling for a lot of people. By getting vaccinated when you are eligible, you are helping the world be one step closer to herd immunity.
- You can combat some of these negative feelings by volunteering at your nearby vaccine point of distribution (POD), or by helping to register friends or family members for their vaccination appointments. See next week for step by step instructions on how to register and book vaccine appointments!
Take your turn, you’re not taking a vaccine away from anyone else!
The next update will cover how to register for and book a vaccination appointment. 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.