When Gov. Doug Ducey and top health officials gave Arizona the green light to reopen after being largely closed for multiple months due to the coronavirus, state officials said the hospitals had capacity to treat any current and future COVID-19 patients.

The purpose of the summer shutdown was, according to officials, to allow the hospitals to build patient capacity and slow the spread of the virus.

The number of COVID-19 related inpatient hospitalizations was 628 as of March 25, according to data from the Arizona Department of Health Services.

The number of intensive care unit, or ICU, beds in use by COVID-19 patients grew after the state ended its stay-at-home order May 15 and peaked the first time July 13 at 970 and the second time at 1,183 Jan. 11. As of March 25, the number of ICU beds across the state in use by COVID-19 patients was at 165.


The state also tracks the number of positive or suspected COVID-19 cases seen in emergency rooms across the state. There were 973 COVID-19 emergency department visits reported on March 25.