PHOENIX — Just days before Thanksgiving, Arizona health officials have reported more than 4,500 confirmed coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period on Tuesday.
Now, the total number of cases in the state is nearing 307,000, with more than 6,500 deaths.
The high number of confirmed cases comes as thousands of people are expected to travel for the holiday.
The @azdhs is reporting 4,544 #COVID19 cases today. The 2nd most in a 24 hour period since pandemic reporting began.
— The AZ - abc15 - Data Guru (@Garrett_Archer) November 24, 2020
The CDC has recommended against travel, but many are still hitting the road and airport. This weekend marked the most air traffic seen in US airports since the start of the pandemic.
Experts have also suggested limiting holiday gatherings to those only in your household and continuing to take all health precautions.
Governor Doug Ducey spoke to Mike Broomhead on KTAR Tuesday morning about the pandemic.
"We are experiencing a surge right now," Ducey said during the intervierw.
Ducey said he thinks it's "wise" to avoid travel and that reminding people about "common sense" practices are a huge part of keeping the community safe.
"People should wear a mask... it's the right thing to do," Ducey said, reiterating that a majority of the state is already under some form of mask mandate and that mitigation efforts put in place during the summer are still partially in place.
Ducey also told Broomhead that the plan is for Arizona to "stay open" in a "safe and healthy way" as they continue to watch healthcare system metrics.
As Arizona's coronavirus numbers continue to rise, the number of available ICU beds is dwindling. As of Monday, there were 175 available adult ICU beds in Arizona, according to the state's dashboard. Currently, 27% of all ICU beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients.