Arizona hits 1 million recorded coronavirus cases

Arizona hit 1 million recorded coronavirus cases on Friday amid the nationwide surge driven by the delta variant.

Data from Arizona’s Department of Health Services shows the state now has 1,001,871 recorded cases and 18,724 deaths during the pandemic. 

The state was pushed over the million marker with 3,707 new cases on Friday, alongside 63 deaths. 

The first case of the coronavirus in Arizona was detected in January of last year with the state now ranking 13th in the number of cases in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Forty-nine percent of the state’s population is fully vaccinated, accounting for more than 3.5 million residents.

State and local officials have been locked in debate over reimplementing mask mandates over fear of the delta variant, which has caused other states’ health systems to become overwhelmed.

Republican Gov. Doug Ducey has sided against mask mandates, signing an executive order to prohibit them for unvaccinated students at public universities.