Arizona reports 3,222 new COVID-19 cases, 25 more deaths Thursday

PHOENIX – Arizona health officials on Thursday reported 3,222 new COVID-19 cases and 25 additional deaths from the virus.

Today’s #COVID19 dashboard adds 3,222 cases and 25 deaths. Protect yourself and others:
✔️Get vaccinated/boosted.
✔️Stay home if sick.
✔️Wear a mask and maintain distance.
✔️Get tested if you have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19.
✔️Learn more: https://t.co/Ub1IbP36vA pic.twitter.com/bLh8tREAki

— AZ Dept of Health (@AZDHS) December 23, 2021

That put the state’s documented pandemic totals at 1,347,405 infections and 23,841 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services’ COVID-19 dashboard.

Hospitalizations for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases have been trending downward in recent weeks, with some ups and downs along the way.

The number of COVID inpatients was at 2,451 on Wednesday, down 39 from the previous day and the fewest since Nov. 19. ICU use for COVID patients was at 669 beds, down 14 from the previous day and the fewest since Dec. 3.

Overall remaining hospital space was reported at 540 inpatient beds (6% of capacity) and 94 ICU beds (6% of capacity) on Wednesday. COVID cases were taking up 28% of statewide inpatient beds and 41% of the ICU beds.

Arizona’s percent positivity for diagnostic COVID testing was at 12% for samples taken this week as of Thursday’s dashboard update, up 1 percentage point from the previous week.

Dr. Richard Carmona, Arizona’s top pandemic adviser and a former U.S. surgeon general, said that unless a personal physician has recommended against it because of a “unique circumstance,” everybody eligible should get vaccinated against COVID-19, including a booster shot.

“The vaccine doesn’t 100% prevent you from getting the disease,” he told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Wednesday. “But if you get it, it’ll be a milder form, it generally prevents you from being hospitalized and being on a ventilator and dying.”

The state dashboard on Thursday showed 68.9% of Arizonans old enough to get vaccinated had received at least one shot, with 58.3% fully vaccinated. The national rates are 77.4% of age-eligible individuals with at least one dose and 65.6% fully vaccinated.

The minimum age to receive the Pfizer shot is 5, and it’s 18 for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. The Pfizer version has full Food and Drug Administration approval, while the other two were granted emergency use authorization.

Health officials strongly recommend booster shots for adults (including people 16 and older for Pfizer) who received their second Pfizer or Moderna doses more than six months ago and those who got the Johnson & Johnson shot at least two months ago.

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.

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.

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.

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