The state of Arizona has seen a 178 percent surge in cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the past two weeks.

This made Arizona as one of the growing hotspots in the U.S. as it sets new records after easing the statewide lockdown.

On Friday, state officials recorded more than 3,240 new cases, breaking its previous record of 2,519 cases reported on Thursday.

Hospital data showed that the use of inpatients beds and ventilators for coronavirus patients hit their highest numbers on Thursday with 1,832 beds reserved for infected patients, an increase from the 1,667 recorded on Wednesday.

As of Thursday, 85 percent of current inpatient beds and 84 percent of beds inside intensive care units served COVID-19 patients. The past 10 days have seen a daily average of 1,000 new cases.

On Friday, health officials reported 41 coronavirus-related fatalities.

However, the rise in cases and deaths has not deterred patrons from visiting packed bars without wearing a face mask, CNN Health reported.

Last month, TMZ posted a video showing professional boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jr., partying at a nightclub in Scottsdale, Arizona.

It can be seen in the footage that the nightclub was packed with people who have no face masks and hand gloves.

Arizona was one of the first states to reopen its economy, but the surge in coronavirus cases may force officials to declare another lockdown.

According to NBC News, most businesses in Tempe remained close.

Others, including clubs and malls, are taking precautionary measures such as limiting capacity and requiring staffers to wear face masks.

Requiring Face Masks

To address the growing number of cases in the state, Governor Doug Ducey, who was previously criticized for not issuing a face mask policy, allowed city and county officials to enforce the wearing of masks in their area, AZCentral reported.

Some cities, including Tucson, Tempe, and the Gila River Indian Community, have plan to issue proclamations that will require residents to wear masks.

In Phoenix, the City Council called for an emergency meeting and voted 7-2 in favor of making the wearing of masks mandatory.

The ordinance, which goes into effect Saturday morning, applies to all public places and transportation system.

Business establishments are also allowed to refuse or service anyone, who does not observe the COVID-19 guidelines.

The order does not apply to children younger than six, people with religious belief against covering their faces, and patrons who are eating or drinking.

Ducey has been facing mounting pressure from health experts, Democratic politicians, and the local media to act as the state's coronavirus cases continue to rise.

Early this week, more than 700 health providers sent the governor a letter, urging him to impose a statewide order requiring the use of face masks in public spaces, the New York Times reported.

This prompted Ducey to direct the state to take action against establishments that refused to follow guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

He said he would also employ some 300 members of the National Guard to help in tracing people who had a contact with an infected peson to curb the spread of the virus.

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