Arizona reports 5,070 new COVID-19 cases, another 78 deaths

City of Phoenix to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for its workers

Employees with the City of Phoenix now have weeks left to get vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a new mandate issued by the city on Nov. 18.

PHOENIX - The daily number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases in Arizona has jumped significantly to over 5,000, state health officials said on Nov. 19.

The state’s coronavirus data dashboard reported 5,070 new cases along with 78 more virus-related deaths. This brings Arizona’s pandemic totals to 1,233,146 cases and 21,886 deaths.

The latest figures come after more than a month of daily case counts that hovered between over 1,000 to over 3,000. Two instances in October where the daily case number was more than 5,000 were partially attributed to the dashboard catching up after technical glitches.

Some of the state’s major hospital systems worry this fall surge will worsen as people with mixed vaccination status gather indoors for the holidays.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 statewide were at 2,415 as of Thursday, a dozen more than the day before.

Meanwhile, the City of Phoenix told its 14,000 employees in an email Thursday that they must be vaccinated by Jan. 18. Employees who don’t comply will face discipline, including possible termination. Religious and medical exemptions may be allowed in some cases.

The city’s federal contracts mean it is obligated to follow a vaccine mandate for federal contractors set by President Joe Biden’s executive order, according to officials.

Britt London, president of the union representing rank-and-file Phoenix officers, released the following statement Friday to FOX 10:

"We take the health and well-being of our officers very seriously. The men and women of the Phoenix Police Department have been on the frontlines throughout the pandemic responding to the public safety needs of our community each day. We respect each officer's decision regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association will continue to monitor the developments of the City of Phoenix vaccine mandate and how it impacts our department."

Almost 4.4 million Arizona residents — or 61.2% of the eligible population — have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Over 3.8 million are fully vaccinated.

MORE: Coronavirus in Arizona: Latest case numbers

In order to protect yourself from a possible infection, the CDC recommends:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Monitor your health daily

Symptoms for coronavirus COVID-19 include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. These, of course, are similar to the common cold and flu.

Expect a common cold to start out with a sore or scratchy throat, cough, runny and/or stuffy nose. Flu symptoms are more intense and usually come on suddenly, and can include a high fever.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear more slowly. They usually include fever, a dry cough and noticeable shortness of breath, according to the World Health Organization. A minority of cases develop pneumonia, and the disease is especially worrisome for the elderly and those with other medical problems such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes or heart conditions.

To protect yourself, wash your hands well and often, keep them away from your face, and avoid crowds and standing close to people.

And if you do find yourself showing any of these flu or coronavirus symptoms - don't go straight to your doctor's office. That just risks making more people sick, officials urge. Call ahead, and ask if you need to be seen and where.