PHOENIX – Arizona health officials reported 3,802 new cases of COVID-19 and a maximum of six months of 80 additional deaths from the disease on Friday.
The last time more deaths were reported was 84 on March 5, near the end of the state’s winter COVID wave.
The latest documented totals are 1,023,935 infections and 18,959 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services ’COVID-19 board.
People who are not fully vaccinated account for almost all serious illnesses and deaths.
The number of confirmed or suspected hospitalized COVID-19s in state hospitals was 2,051 on Thursday, a decrease of 19 from the previous day, but the third most since Feb. 14.
The number of ICU beds used by patients with COVID-19 was 557, an increase of eight from the previous day and the highest since 18 February.
Hospital figures are about four times higher than before the start of the third state wave in early July.
The board also showed that 4,038,946 people (56.2% of the state’s population, based on 7,189,020 residents) have received at least one dose of vaccine in Arizona and 3,555,870 people are fully vaccinated (the 49.5% of the population). National rates are 62% with at least one dose and 52.7% 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 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.