Arizona is the only state that has medium/high COVID-19 levels in all its counties

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — COVID-19 is on the rise as soon as once more in Arizona. The newest numbers from the state well being division present 12,987 instances and 42 new deaths. Eight Arizona counties at the moment have excessive transmission ranges, and Arizona is the one state within the nation the place each single county has medium or excessive ranges of COVID-19 transmission.

Hospitalizations have additionally been rising over the past month, however this 12 months’s Thanksgiving surge isn’t fairly as extreme as final 12 months’s surge. Nonetheless, a number of Valley docs count on these numbers to proceed rising into subsequent 12 months. “I’m taking a look at about February, the height can be over,” Valleywise Well being emergency doctor physician Frank LoVecchio mentioned.

In comparison with the previous couple of months, LoVecchio says November feels totally different concerning the amount of COVID instances. “The numbers are saying that there’s solely about seven % of those who come to Arizona ERs, or Maricopa County ERs with COVID-like diseases,” he mentioned. “It feels prefer it’s far more than that. It feels prefer it’s double or triple that.”

Valleywise officers say the variety of COVID instances has greater than doubled from August till now, and LoVecchio says that’s on high of a rise in flu and RSV instances which weren’t as prevalent final 12 months. “We’re slightly burnt out, I hoped this might be over,” LoVecchio mentioned. “However it appears to be like like will probably be slightly bit worse these subsequent two months.”

Eight % of Arizona COVID-19 sufferers at the moment occupy hospital ICU beds, in response to current Well being And Human Providers information. That’s one of many highest charges within the nation and greater than 2.5% above the nationwide common. College of Arizona physician Shad Marvasti says one of the simplest ways to combat the surge is doing what the CDC, DHS, and different organizations have really useful for the reason that pandemic began.

“Take into account sporting these masks in indoor public areas,” Marvasti mentioned. “Not only a flimsy surgical or material masks however both a KN-95 or an N-95. In case you haven’t been vaccinated, you undoubtedly ought to get vaccinated. And in the event you haven’t been boosted, now could be the time to get boosted.”

However with the pandemic approaching 12 months three, Marvasti isn’t assured that many Arizonans will change their methods. “I don’t count on most Arizonans to take precautions, sadly,” he mentioned. “I believe folks have been desensitized to it. When the numbers are excessive, everyone ought to do their half.”

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