Arizona is quickly approaching the record-levels of COVID-19 cases set over the summer. The state reported 4,123 positive cases Thursday, the highest total since July 14.
Will Humble, former director Arizona's Department of Health Services, said hospitals in the state are just weeks away from running out of room.
“I don’t think anything at this point is going to avert a hospital crisis in December. It’s too late,” Humble said.
Humble said in this pandemic timing is critical, for example, decisions made in May led to Arizona’s spike in July.
“The decisions that were made and not made in October are going to result in what I believe is a similar, if not worse, hospital crisis in mid-December,” Humble said.
Gov. Doug Ducey this week announced additional funding for Arizona hospitals and stricter measures for mask compliance in schools. But Ducey did not issue a statewide mask mandate or add any new restrictions for businesses.
Humble warned that out-of-state medical personnel who came to assist Arizona hospitals during the summer peak may not be available to help this winter since cases are surging in so much of the rest of the country too.
