Arizona reports 626 new COVID-19 cases, 7 additional deaths Thursday

PHOENIX – Arizona public health officials on Thursday reported 626 new COVID-19 cases and seven additional deaths from the disease.

The latest documented totals were 891,649 infections and 17,875 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services’ COVID-19 dashboard.

The dashboard also showed that 6,345,901 vaccine doses have been administered in the state, with 3,525,053 people (49% of the state’s population) having received at least one shot and 3,093,853 people fully vaccinated.

Hospitalizations related to COVID-19 have been fluctuating by relatively small amounts on a daily basis.

The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 inpatients in the state’s hospitals decreased by five overnight to 497 on Wednesday. The number of ICU beds used by COVID-19 patients fell by 11 to 124.

The state health department’s daily updates present case and death data after the state receives statistics and confirms them, which can lag by several days or more. They don’t represent the actual activity over the past 24 hours.

The hospitalization numbers posted each morning are reported electronically the previous evening by hospitals across the state.

COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, has no impact on some people and is seriously debilitating or fatal for others. Infected people without symptoms — which include but are not limited to cough, fever and difficulty breathing — are capable of spreading the virus.

Information about where to get tested for COVID-19 can be found on the Department of Health Services website.

Federally approved vaccines are highly effective in stopping the transmission of COVID-19.

For details about statewide vaccine availability, the ADHS website has a vaccine-finder page showing locations and registration information.

For information about metro Phoenix vaccine availability, Maricopa County Public Health has a locator page that lists pharmacies, government-run sites, health clinics and pop-up distribution events.

Appointments may be required depending on the provider, but many accept walk-ins.

The minimum age to receive the Pfizer shot has been reduced to 12, but it’s still 18 for the other approved versions, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

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