It’s been just over six years since Arizona confirmed its first case of COVID-19. This winter, virus cases in the state have dropped to the lowest levels since the pandemic started.
In the first few years of the pandemic, Arizona was one of the hardest-hit states with higher-than-average rates of infection and one of the highest rates of COVID-19 death in the country.
Ever since 2020, the state has seen seasonal increases in COVID-19 throughout fall and winter. But this fall and winter, caseloads have been notably much lower than they have been in previous years.
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, the state has averaged more than 86,000 COVID-19 cases between October and February for the past three seasons. This October through February, the state has reported just over 10,000 cases — an 88% drop.
Other measures of virus activity also indicate decreases. COVID-19 concentrations in wastewater sampling in the state this winter appear to be much lower than the previous winter, according to ADHS.
ADHS reports the state has also seen below-average numbers of cases for influenza and RSV this fall and winter.
“It’s an overall very positive forecast for respiratory infections,” ADHS Bureau of Infectious Diseases medical director, Dr. Joel Terriquez said during a call with reporters earlier this month. “This does not mean that we need to let our guard down. We need to continue encouraging vaccination as well as overall respiratory etiquette for everyone in the community.”
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