PHOENIX – Arizona health officials reported 2,480 new cases of COVID-19 and an additional 62 deaths from the disease on Thursday.
The latest documented totals are 1,039,492 infections and 19,141 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services ’COVID-19 board.
COVID-19 hospitalization figures are about four times higher than before the third wave of the state began two months ago, with people not fully vaccinated representing the vast majority of serious illness and death.
The number of hospitalized patients confirmed or suspected of COVID-19 in state hospitals was 2,061 on Wednesday, a decrease of 29 from the previous day, when the current wave reached its highest level so far.
The number of ICU beds used by patients with COVID-19 was 561, an increase of one from the previous day and seven below the current wave peak.
According to the board, patients with COVID-19 occupy 32% of ICU beds in the state for the third day in a row. At the peak of the January winter hike, 66% of the state’s ICU beds were filled with COVID patients.
The positivity rate of COVID-19 diagnostic tests conducted last week was 12% as of Thursday’s update, a one percentage point increase over the previous week. It remains at 12% for samples taken and completed so far this week.
The board also showed that 4,063,821 people (56.5% of the state’s population, based on 7,189,020 residents) have received at least one dose of vaccine in Arizona and 3,580,077 people are fully vaccinated (the 49.8% of the population). National rates are 62.7% with at least one dose and 53.3% fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Daily updates from the state health department present case and death data after the state receives statistics and confirms them, which can be delayed several days or more. They do not represent the actual activity during the last 24 hours. Hospitalization numbers published each morning are communicated electronically the night before by hospitals across the state.
Federally authorized free vaccines are widely available and highly effective in preventing COVID-19 disease, including the most contagious delta variant that now accounts for most new cases in the United States.
For details on statewide vaccine availability, the ADHS website has a vaccine search engine page with locations and other information.
For information on the availability of the Phoenix Metro vaccine, Maricopa County Public Health has a location page that includes pharmacies, government-run sites, health clinics, and pop-up distribution events. An appointment may be required depending on the provider.
The minimum age to receive the Pfizer shot is 12 years and is 18 years for the other available versions, Modern and Johnson & Johnson.
COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, has no impact on some people and is severely debilitating or deadly to others. Asymptomatic infected people, which include, but are not limited to, cough, fever, and difficulty breathing, are able to spread the virus.
You can find information on where to test for COVID-19 on the ADHS website.