Sky Schaudt/KJZZ

A sign for a testing site in Phoenix in January 2022.

Arizona set a single-day record for new COVID-19 infections Wednesday. The state reported 18,783 new cases, breaking a record set in January 2021. 

The highly contagious omicron variant is pushing Arizona’s caseloads into uncharted territory. On average, the state has been reporting nearly 15,000 cases per day this week, higher than at any point in the pandemic. During last winter’s peak, the daily average never surpassed 10,000. Medical experts expect numbers to continue climbing for at least a few more weeks.

Daily death tolls are rising in Arizona, too, but so far haven’t reached the levels seen last winter. Overall, nearly 25,000 Arizonans have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only Mississippi and New York City have lost larger shares of their populations to the virus.

Arizona Coronavirus Cases, Deaths

→ Here's what to do if you test positive for COVID-19 in Arizona