Biden gets tour of Arizona stadium vaccine site

GLENDALE, Arizona — President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris virtually toured the mass Covid-19 vaccination site set up at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

Gov. Doug Ducey has held up the stadium as a model for other states trying to establish large vaccination venues. Though some Arizona residents have criticized the online system for trying to get an appointment there.

The event comes as the Arizona Department of Health Services reports an additional 2,250 new virus cases and seven more deaths. The state has now seen 782,887 cases 14,055 deaths since the pandemic began.

Meanwhile, the number of Covid-19 patients requiring hospitalization is continuing to slide. Officials say 2,853 people with the virus are occupying 33% of hospital beds statewide. There are currently 828 virus patients taking up 46% of ICU beds.

The number of infections is thought to be far higher than reported because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.

Arizona has been a national hot spot in the now-receding fall and winter surge. It was the U.S. state with the worst Covid-19 infection rate during much of January.