Arizona health officials on Sunday reported nearly 2,000 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 30 more deaths as the state closes in on 800,000 cases and 15,000 deaths since the pandemic began.
The latest numbers released by the Arizona Department of Health Services increased the state’s pandemic totals to 797,270 cases and 14,978 known deaths.
Health officials said the coronavirus remains widespread across the state, but the surge that made Arizona the nation’s hot spot last month is receding.
Also, COVID-19 hospitalizations and daily case averages are now lower than they were at the July peak of the state’s first wave, but the death pace remains higher.
There were 2,213 hospitalized COVID-19 patients occupying inpatient beds as of Saturday. That’s down from the pandemic high of 5,082 on Jan. 11, according to the state’s coronavirus dashboard.
The number of ICU beds used by COVID-19 patients dipped to 661, tying the fewest since Dec. 1.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher than reported because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
