COVID-19 cases remain relatively low in Arizona, in spite of a new strain of the virus gaining dominance across the U.S.
In early May, the Nimbus subvariant accounted for about 5% of COVID cases nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By early June, it was driving more than a third of new cases.
Nimbus has earned the nickname “razor blade throat” because many patients are experiencing severe pain when swallowing.
“People are obviously complaining of this more, which is making them seek medical attention,” said Dr. Joel Terriquez, medical director of the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Bureau of Infectious Disease.
But Terriquez said the new strain does not appear to be making patients sicker, just more uncomfortable.
He added that COVID-19 cases do not appear to be rising in Arizona for now, even as Nimbus spreads. The state reported 608 COVID cases last week – that’s a 72% drop from the same time last year.
“That’s definitely a significant positive change on the number of cases, at least in the state of Arizona,” Terriquez said.
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Phoenix remains under an extreme heat warning through the weekend. By Sunday, this warning will have lasted 18 consecutive days, making it the second-longest extreme heat warning ever for the Valley.
