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FILE – In this file photo from Dec. 29, 2020, Pat Moore of the Chester County, Pa., Health department fills a syringe with Moderna COVID-19 vaccine before administering it to emergency medical workers and health workers at the Chester County Government Services Center in West Chester, Pa. On Friday, May 21, the Associated Press reported articles circulating online falsely claiming that SM-102 is an ingredient in the Moderna vaccine that is not not safe for humans or veterinary use. (AP Photo / Matt Slocum, File)
PHOENIX – Arizona health officials on Saturday reported more than 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 for the fourth day in a row for the first time since early March.
The Arizona Department of Health Services added 1,152 cases and 14 deaths to its COVID-19 dashboard, bringing the documented totals to 907,268 infections and 18,114 deaths.
The current string of four-figure case reports is the longest since a five-day race from March 2 to 7, when vaccine supplies were limited and doses were rationed.
COVID-19-related hospitalizations, meanwhile, rose in July to levels not seen in four months, with unvaccinated people accounting for most serious illnesses, health officials said. The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 hospital patients in state hospitals rose from 26 overnight to 745 on Friday, the highest number since March 17. The number of intensive care beds used by COVID-19 patients remained at 185, the second since May. 17.
The percentage of positivity for diagnostic tests last week was 9% in Friday’s update, the highest since February. That’s up to 11% so far for this week.
The dashboard also showed that 6,674,946 doses of the vaccine were administered in the state, with 3,660,850 people (50.9% of the state’s population) having received at least one injection and 3,285,190 fully vaccinated people.
“With at least 50% of all Arizonans having received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, there is less chance for a significant increase in cases or significant strain on the healthcare system and intensive care units.” ADHS Director Dr Cara Christ wrote in a blog post on Wednesday.
“But we have reached the point where severe cases and deaths from COVID-19 are almost entirely preventable. “
The state’s daily health department updates present case and death data after the state receives and confirms the statistics, which may differ by days or more. They do not represent actual activity over the past 24 hours.
Hospitalization numbers posted each morning are reported electronically the night before by hospitals statewide.
COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, has no impact on some people and is severely debilitating or fatal for others. People who are infected without symptoms – which include, but are not limited to, cough, fever, and difficulty breathing – are able to spread the virus.
Information on where to get tested for COVID-19 is available on the Department of Health Services website.
Federally approved vaccines are widely available and very effective in stopping the transmission of COVID-19, including the more contagious Delta variant which is responsible for much of the recent spread.
For details on vaccine availability statewide, the ADHS website has a vaccine search page with locations and other information.
For more information on vaccine availability in the Phoenix metro area, Maricopa County Public Health has a location page that lists pharmacies, government-run sites, health clinics, and distribution events. contextual.
Appointments may be required depending on the provider, but many accept walk-in appointments.
The minimum age to receive the Pfizer vaccine has been reduced to 12, but it is still 18 for the other approved versions, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.
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