Arizona cases of COVID-19, or the new coronavirus, rose to a new total of 18 on March 16.
The Arizona Department of Health Services announced the cases Monday morning on its website.
As of right now in the state, 200 people have been tested, 125 cases have been ruled out and 63 are pending results.
READ MORE: COVID-19 and ASU: Here's what you need to know
On Sunday evening, the city of Tempe announced in an email that town facilities will be closed through March 27, including the Tempe Public Library, Tempe Center for the Arts and Cahill Senior Center.
Various childcare and preschool programs will run until close of business day on Monday, March 16 to "give parents time to find alternatives," according to the written statement. The closures will remain in effect from Tuesday, March 17 to March 27. A full list of local closures can be found online.
On March 15 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as ADHS, recommended that large gatherings of 50 or more people over the next eight weeks be canceled or postponed. The recommendation though does not apply to the "day to day operation" of schools, universities or businesses, the CDC website said.
Last week, Gov. Doug Ducey announced a declaration of emergency to help fight the spread in the state. On Sunday, Ducey and Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, Kathy Hoffman, announced that all public and private schools within the state will close beginning today and lasting until March 27.
The closing of schools currently does not apply to any of the state's universities.
ASU announced last week that the University's classes would be going online where possible for the next two weeks. That transition begins Monday.
Today's number of cases is an increase of five from the previous day.
According to The New York Times, there are over 3,800 cases in the U.S. currently, with cases being reported in all but one state, West Virginia. Sixty seven patients have died from the virus nationwide.
Editors note: This story was updated to include the latest testing numbers from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Reach the reporter at wmyskow@asu.edu and follow @wmyskow on Twitter.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
Wyatt Myskow is the project manager at The State Press, where he oversees enterprise stories for the publication. He also works at The Arizona Republic, where he covers the cities of Peoria and Surprise.
