Arizona reached two more sad milestones Wednesday in the COVID-19 pandemic. Our state has now recorded more than 800,000 total positive cases and more than 15,000 total deaths.
Total cases and deaths in Arizona doubled just since mid-December. But for now, it appears the worst of the winter surge is over. New infections in our state appear to have peaked just after the New Year, according to data from the Arizona Department of Health Services. Arizona COVID-19 deaths hit a high in mid-January. Hospitalizations have also been steadily declining since January.
Banner Health, the state's largest hospital system, is resuming elective surgeries and preparing to loosen hospital visitor restrictions. But chief clinical officer Dr. Marjorie Bessel said Wednesday that many of her hospitals are still operating above capacity.
“We still are in the midst of a pandemic," Bessel said. "It’s important for us to stay true to science and follow appropriate mitigation, enforcement and personal accountability.”
Arizona is still reporting more new daily cases per capita than the national average, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But Arizona's rate of new daily cases was the nation's highest for much of January. The CDC now ranks Arizona's outbreak 12th-highest among states.
