Could the new coronavirus be the leading cause of death in Arizona?
During an update of the coronavirus pandemic, members of the COVID-19 model team Arizona State University warned that it was likely.
In an average year, about 12,000 Arizona residents die of heart disease and another 12,000 die of cancer, said Dr. Josh LaBaer, executive director of ASU’s Biodesign Institute, according to local news station AZFamily. But coronavirus deaths in the state have exceeded 10,855 according to current estimates. So COVID-19 could soon become the biggest cause of death, he said.
“We see an extraordinary number of new cases a day and it’s a scary position to be in,” LaBaer said.
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LaBaer said at least 50% of residents should receive the COVID-19 vaccine to significantly slow the spread of the new virus in the state and eventually see a decrease in coronavirus deaths.
But the explosion of the vaccine in the state was slow – just like in the whole country.
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“I’m a little worried that everyone is being seduced by the fact that vaccines are starting to roll out. But keep in mind that the number of people currently being vaccinated is very small. We are not vaccinating nearly the number of people it would take to get the influencing the spread of the virus in our community at the moment, ‘LaBaer said, noting that an estimated 80% of Arizonans will need to receive the vaccine to prevent a future outbreak of the coronavirus.