Arizona has the highest rate of Covid-19 infection in the United States and is on the verge of running out of space in crowded hospitals, according to public health and hospital officials.
The state hit a record for new infections last week, with 11,324 in a single day. It has the highest per capita rate of new Covid-19 infections in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the highest rate of Covid-19 hospitalizations, according to the Covid follow-up project.
As of Monday, about 16 percent of Covid-19 tests in the state have returned positive, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, and health officials estimate that one in 10 residents is currently infected.
“We are the hottest place in the United States and one of the hottest spots in the world,” said Keith Frey, medical director for the Arizona division of the Dignity Health hospital chain. “If we do not slow down in the next few days and weeks, then we will be fully in that crisis zone.”
Mr Frey spoke at a news conference on Wednesday, where the heads of Arizona’s largest health systems gathered to express how serious the situation had become.