FILE – In this July 22, 2021 file photo, a health care worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Most Americans who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 say they are unlikely to get the shots and doubt they would work against the aggressive delta variant despite evidence they do, according to a new poll that underscores the challenges facing public health officials amid soaring infections in some states.(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
PHOENIX – Arizona health officials on Friday reported 1,479 new COVID-19 cases and seven additional deaths from the disease.
It was the fifth consecutive day with at least 1,000 cases, the longest such streak since March 3-7.
The latest documented totals were 914,132 infections and 18,144 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard.
Hospitalizations related to COVID-19 have been on the rise, with unvaccinated people accounting for almost all of the serious illnesses, according to health officials. The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 inpatients in the state’s hospitals increased by 42 overnight to 910 on Thursday, the most since March 8. The number of ICU beds used by COVID-19 patients ticked up by one to 238, the most since March 12.
The percent positivity for diagnostic testing conducted last week was 12% as of Friday’s update, the highest since early February. It was up to 13% so far for this week’s reports.
The dashboard also showed that 6,741,560 vaccine doses have been administered in the state, with 3,694,095 people (51.4% of the state’s population, based on 7,189,020 residents) having received at least one shot and 3,313,153 people fully vaccinated (46.1% of the population).
The state health department’s daily updates present case and death data after the state receives statistics and confirms them, which can lag by several days or more. They don’t represent the actual activity over the past 24 hours. The hospitalization numbers posted each morning are reported electronically the previous evening by hospitals across the state.
Federally authorized vaccines are widely available and highly effective in stopping the transmission of COVID-19, including the more contagious delta variant that accounts for most of the new cases in the U.S.
For details about statewide vaccine availability, the ADHS website has a vaccine-finder page with locations and other information.
For information about metro Phoenix vaccine availability, Maricopa County Public Health has a locator page that lists pharmacies, government-run sites, health clinics and pop-up distribution events.
Appointments may be required depending on the provider, but many accept walk-ins.
The minimum age to receive the Pfizer shot has been reduced to 12, but it’s still 18 for the other approved versions, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.
COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, has no impact on some people and is seriously debilitating or fatal for others. Infected people without symptoms — which include but are not limited to cough, fever and difficulty breathing — are capable of spreading the virus.
Information about where to get tested for COVID-19 can be found on the ADHS website.