VIDEO: An increase in COVID-19 cases is already having an influence on patients. Currently, 26 percent of Arizona ICU beds are being occupied by COVID-19 patients, and that number is rising. "Our number of COVID patients in the hospital have doubled in the last week," said Valleywise Health Medical Center ER Physician Frank Lovecchio. "I don’t know if there’s any treatment that actually saves someone’s life except for what we call supportive care."
The Arizona Department of Health Services reported 4,123 positive COVID cases on Thursday, the fifth-largest daily number reported.
Lovecchio said the increase in cases is already affecting how long patients are held at his hospital. Some patients are being sent home early to reserve space for a possible influx of COVID-19 patients.