Deaths due to COVID-19 in Arizona surpassed 7,000 as the state reported more than 4,400 new COVID-19 cases and 108 new known deaths on Wednesday, with hospitalizations for the disease still on the rise.
The state data dashboard shows 90% of all ICU beds and 90% of all in-patient beds in Arizona were in use Tuesday, with 44% of ICU beds and 38% of non-ICU beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.
In general, the pandemic is worsening both statewide and nationally, and public health experts expect the virus to spread further because of Thanksgiving and upcoming holidays.
A report released Nov. 19 by Arizona State University predicted that hospital capacity in Arizona will be exceeded in December and that, without additional public health measures, holiday gatherings are likely to cause 600 to 1,200 additional deaths from COVID-19 in Arizona by Feb. 1 beyond current-scenario death projections.