Arizona dips below 3K new coronavirus cases for first time in 5 days

Arizona’s COVID-19 cases have dipped below 3,000 for the first time in five days, The Associated Press reported.

Arizona’s Department of Health Services on Monday reported 2,362 new cases of the virus along with zero COVID-related deaths. 

The state still has 1,901 people hospitalized with COVID-19, the first time it has reached such heights since February.

The new data comes as the U.S. is dealing with another wave of COVID infections, as the highly contagious delta variant is hitting the unvaccinated hard. 

State officials and local school districts have been battling over implementing mask mandates, as some politicians have urged citizens to get vaccinated amid the recent surge, the AP reported. 

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) recently signed an executive order in June that prohibits mask mandates at state universities for unvaccinated students and staff. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Arizona has reported 988,174 COVID-19 cases and 18,600 COVID-19-related deaths, according to the state’s health department.