New Year’s is just days behind us and coronavirus infections are skyrocketing. As of Jan. 4, the state reported more than 5,000 new cases, and three more more people have died.
But over the holiday weekend the Arizona Department of Health Services reported a staggering 17,234 cases — a number that shattered the previous record of more than 12,000 infections at the beginning of December.
The majority of cases remain concentrated in the densely populated Maricopa County. And hospitals statewide are nearing capacity, with ICU beds filled to 93%.
Last week, area healthcare providers — including Banner, HonorHealth and Valleywise — began diverting non-coronavirus emergencies to other facilities and transferring patients to hospitals with available beds.
Health care officials are still anticipating further spikes in numbers following the holiday season as state health officials continue to report record case counts.
For more on the stress this is creating for Arizona hospitals, The Show spoke with Ann-Marie Alameddin, president and CEO of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.
