Arizona reports 1,361 new COVID-19 cases, 2 additional deaths Wednesday

PHOENIX – Arizona health officials on Wednesday reported 1,361 new COVID-19 cases and two additional deaths from the disease, while hospitalizations continued to surge.

The latest documented totals were 921,445 infections and 18,185 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard.

Hospitalizations related to COVID-19 have been on the rise this month, with unvaccinated people accounting for almost all of the serious illnesses and deaths, according to health officials.

The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 inpatients in the state’s hospitals increased by 54 overnight to 973 on Tuesday, the most since March 5.

The number of ICU beds used by COVID-19 patients jumped by 58 to 332, the most since March 3 and an increase of almost 150% since July 1.

The percent positivity for diagnostic testing conducted last week was 13% as of Wednesday’s update, the highest since late January.

The dashboard also showed that 3,723,951 people (51.8% of the state’s population, based on 7,189,020 residents) have received at least one dose of vaccine in Arizona and 3,331,130 people are fully vaccinated (46.3% of the population).

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.

Free federally authorized vaccines are widely available and highly effective in preventing illness from COVID-19, including the more contagious delta variant that now accounts for most of the new cases in the U.S.

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.

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 ADHS website.

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