Arizona has the highest Covid-19 infection rate in the US and is on the verge of running out of space in busy hospitals, public health and hospital officials said.
The state set a record for new infections last week, with 11,324 in one day. It has the highest number of new Covid-19 infections per capita in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the highest number of Covid-19 hospitalizations, according to the Covid Tracking Project.
As of Monday, about 16% of Covid-19 tests in the state came back positive, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University, and health officials estimate that one in 10 residents is currently infected.
“We are the hottest place in the US and one of the hottest places in the world,” said Keith Frey, chief medical officer of the Arizona division of the Dignity Health hospital chain. “If we don’t delay this over the next few days and weeks, then we are completely in that crisis zone.”
Mr. Frey spoke at a press conference on Wednesday where the heads of Arizona’s largest health systems gathered to express how dire the situation has become.