Hospitalizations moderate as COVID-19 cases surpass 150,000

Arizona has surpassed 150,000 COVID-19 cases, with deaths nearing 3,000, as the virus continues to spread but pressure on hospitals appears to moderate.

Arizona's total cases passed 100,000 July 6, just over two weeks after the case count passed 50,000. Now, just over another two weeks later, the state has added another 50,000 new cases.

Maricopa County surpassed 100,000 cases for the first time on Wednesday.

Inpatient hospitalizations, ICU beds in use, ventilators in use and emergency department visits by suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients all saw slight upticks on Tuesday but appear to be continuing general declines from last week, according to hospital data reported to the state.

Identified cases rose to 150,609 and known deaths total 2,974, according to the daily report by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

The 56 additional known deaths reported on Wednesday represent the new deaths identified by the Health Department

that day, but many occurred days and weeks prior.

Wednesday's dashboard shows 84% of current inpatient beds and 86% of ICU beds were in use, which includes people being treated for COVID-19 and other patients. Overall, 51% of ventilators were in use.

Cases increased by 1,926, or 1.3%, from Tuesday's 148,683 identified cases since the outbreak began.

At the county level, there were 100,543 cases in Maricopa, 13,990 in Pima, 9,713 in Yuma, 6,910 in Pinal, 4,898 in Navajo, 2,797 in Apache, 2,736 in Coconino, 2,464 in Mohave, 2,401 in Santa Cruz, 1,463 in Yavapai, 1,296 in Cochise, 600 in Gila, 445 in La Paz, 314 in Graham and 39 in Greenlee, according to state numbers.

Deaths rose to 1,599 in Maricopa, 392 in Pima, 206 in Yuma, 163 in Navajo, 123 in Mohave, 115 in Apache, 113 in Pinal, 107 in Coconino, 49 in Yavapai, 43 in Santa Cruz, 29 in Cochise, 20 in Gila, nine in La Paz, five in Graham and fewer than three in Greenlee.

The Navajo Nation reported 8,639 cases and 425 confirmed deaths as of Tuesday.