COVID-19 cases in Arizona this week dropped to the lowest level the state has seen since late April. 

In its weekly update Wednesday, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported 3,666 COVID-19 cases — that’s less than half of last week’s count.

Medical experts say COVID-19 cases are almost certainly undercounted, since at-home tests rarely get reported to state officials. But the state's test positivity rate also continues to drop. And hospitalization rates in Arizona remain low. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, COVID-19 patients now occupy just about 3% of the state’s ICU beds.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also moved nine of Arizona's 15 counties, including Maricopa County, into its low level for community transmission. Only Apache County remains in the high category.

Federal health officials do anticipate cases will rise again this winter. New booster vaccines that target the omicron variant of COVID-19 are available now for Arizonans over age 12.