KGUN 9NewsCoronavirus

Actions

Arizona hospitals at 83% capacity, elective surgery may stop

Posted at 1:50 PM, Jun 10, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-10 16:50:47-04

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona hospitals that are expected to be able to treat new cases of coronavirus without going into crisis mode were above 80% capacity Tuesday.

The milestone should trigger an automatic end to elective surgeries at affected hospitals. Wednesday's report from the Department of Health Services comes as the state deals with a surge in virus cases and hospitalizations that experts say is likely tied to Gov. Doug Ducey’s ending of statewide closure orders in mid-May.

Ducey has been criticized for not adding requirements that could prevent a surge, and some say the time to put those measures in place has come.