Arizona hospitals are still grappling with record-high hospitalizations from COVID-19 as the state sees a continued surge in new cases.
Available intensive care unit beds are also in short supply with only 9% not in use throughout the state as of yesterday. In addition, the percent of positive tests – a key indicator of the severity of virus spread – has grown to 12.1%. Health experts say the rate should be 5% before the widespread lifting of safety measures.
On Tuesday, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported 2,799 new known COVID cases and 171 additional deaths from the virus.
There have now been more than 507,000 total COVID infections in Arizona since the pandemic began and nearly 8,700 people have died.
