Health officials in Arizona on Wednesday reported record numbers
of daily coronavirus cases and new deaths because of the disease,
just hours before Vice President Mike Pence’s arrival in
Phoenix.
The state logged 4,878 new Covid-19 infections and 88 additional
deaths,
according to the Arizona Department of Health
Services.
More than 84,000 people have now tested positive statewide,
resulting in an overall death toll of 1,720.
Communities across the South and West have seen spikes in
coronavirus cases in recent weeks, including in Arizona and the
nation’s three most populous states: California, Florida and
Texas.
Community spread of the disease and increased rates of infection
among young people have accelerated the precipitous climbs in
caseloads and forced some governors to slow plans for their
states’ economic reopenings.
As part of a series of visits to hotspots across the country,
Pence met on Wednesday afternoon in Phoenix with Arizona’s
governor, Doug Ducey.
The vice president is scheduled to participate in a news
briefing with the governor on the state’s coronavirus response
efforts before departing for Washington in the evening.
