The COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound impact on public health in Arizona.
In our report that summarized total mortality during 2020 we found clear evidence that total mortality has substantially increased during 2020, particularly in June, July, and December. Indeed, the total mortality rate per 100,000 during July 2020 was 64% higher than July 2019. December 2020 was 61% higher than 2019.
The grim trend is continuing into 2021. Total mortality rates in AZ during January 2021 were 64% higher than the total mortality rate in January 2020 (see chart). The increases in deaths are the result of the effects of the pandemic including COVID-19 disease and delayed or suspended care for non-COVID illnesses.
For some perspective, if Arizona were a country, we would have the highest COVID-19 mortality rate in the world, edging out Belgium and Peru. Just think about that.
Editorial Note: Arizona’s poor performance has not been because of bad luck or fate as has been suggested by Governor Ducey and Director Christ. It is largely because of an inability to learn from policy successes and failures, bad decisions, misplaced priorities, and an inability to execute core responsibilities.
In Arizona we saw first-hand what worked to lower COVID case rates and save lives: face masks mandates implemented by cities/counties and mitigation/enforcement strategies in high-spread businesses like bars and nightclubs.
Sadly, many of these COVID cases and deaths could have been avoided if Governor Ducey and Director Christ had learned from their successes in the spring and early summer of 2020 and used evidence to drive their decision-making.
Because they did not, many thousands of lives will have been lost. It is an unimaginable tragedy. Everyone lost was a mother, a father, a sister or brother, or son or daughter. They had kids. They left loved ones behind.
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