More than 1,000 COVID-19 cases reported in Arizona for fourth straight day

Arizona officials reported more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for a fourth straight day on Saturday, The Associated Press reported. 

According to Arizona’s Department of Health Services, 1,152 new positive cases were reported on Saturday along with 14 COVID-19-related deaths. The number of COVID-19-related hospitalizations also rose to 745 on Friday, surpassing the recent totals of 500 to 600 daily hospitalizations in the months of May and June.

Also, 10 percent of virus-stricken patients are occupying beds at a hospital, according to recent statistics, down from the previous high of 66 percent during the winter. 

In a statement last week, Dr. Cara Christ, the director of Arizona’s  Department of Health Services, said that an uptick of virus cases was preventable if people get vaccinated, Christ also noted that 51 percent of Arizona’s population is vaccinated. 

“With at least 50% of all Arizonans having received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, there’s less chance for a major surge in cases or significant strain on the healthcare system and intensive care units,” Christ said. “But we’ve reached the point where severe cases and deaths from COVID-19 are almost entirely preventable.”

The developments come as most of the country is experiencing another wave of COVID-19 cases due to the more contiguous delta variant. 

Arizona has recorded a total of 908,248 COVID-19 cases along with 18,117 COVID-related deaths since the pandemic began, according to state data.