Arizona hits 50% mark for COVID-19 vaccines; 625 new cases reported

PHOENIX – As the state reached the milestone of half the population receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, Arizona public health officials on Thursday reported 625 new cases and no additional deaths from the virus.

The latest documented totals were 898,908 infections and 18,003 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services’ COVID-19 dashboard. The death count actually went down by one from the previous day, as happens at times due to data corrections.

The dashboard also showed that 6,590,483 vaccine doses have been administered in the state, with 3,594,004 people (50% of the state’s population) having received at least one shot and 3,186,689 people fully vaccinated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 55.1% of the U.S. population has received at least one shot.

Hospitalizations related to COVID-19 have been fluctuating by relatively small amounts on a day-to-day basis. The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 inpatients in the state’s hospitals decreased by 14 overnight to 548 on Wednesday. The number of ICU beds used by COVID-19 patients increased by two to 152.

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 with locations and other 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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