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There have been 36,000 excess deaths in Arizona since the pandemic began

The Arizona Public Health Association has published  a new report analyzing how deaths in the state have exceeded numerical expectations.

The findings show tens of thousands of excess deaths directly or indirectly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In 2020, Arizona trailed only New York city in overall deaths that exceeded normal expectations. But in 2021, the report says Arizona hit “the largest percent of excess deaths of any state,” at 24%. 

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been an estimated 36,000 excess fatalities in the state.

Only a little more than half of those were from COVID-19, some of the rest of the causes include respiratory diseases, heart diseases, strokes and diabetes.

The report also concludes lack of evidence-based interventions like indoor mask requirements and vaccine mandates will lead to many more Arizona deaths.

Arizona Coronavirus Cases, Deaths

Jill Ryan joined KJZZ in 2020 as a morning reporter, and she is currently a field correspondent and Morning Edition producer.