Arizona reports 2,595 new COVID-19 cases, 38 additional deaths Tuesday

PHOENIX – Arizona health officials on Tuesday reported 2,595 new COVID-19 cases and 38 additional deaths from the disease.

The latest documented totals are 991,309 infections and 18,638 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard.

Hospitalizations related to the virus have nearly quadrupled since the state’s third COVID-19 wave started in early July. People who aren’t fully vaccinated now account for almost all of the serious illnesses and deaths.

The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 inpatients in the state’s hospitals increased by 93 overnight to 1,994 on Monday, the most since Feb. 15.

The number of ICU beds used by COVID-19 patients went up by 18 to 494, the most since Feb. 20.

The positivity rate for COVID-19 diagnostic testing conducted last week was 11% as of Tuesday’s update, the lowest since the week of July 11.

The dashboard also showed that 3,972,698 people (55.3% of the state’s population, based on 7,189,020 residents) have received at least one dose of vaccine in Arizona and 3,483,917 people are fully vaccinated (48.5% of the population). The nationwide rates are 60.8% with at least one dose and 51.5% fully vaccinated, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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.

Follow @KTAR923