Arizona reports nearly 2,000 COVID-19 cases, 22 deaths

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona on Friday reported nearly 2,000 additional known COVID-19 cases as the coronavirus outbreak continued to intensify. The Department of Health Services reported 1,996 additional cases with 22 deaths, increasing the state’s totals to 254,764 cases and 6,109 deaths. Arizona was a national hot spot in June and July. But conditions improved in August and most of September before cases and hospitalizations began to gradually increase, a trend that continued throughout