As Arizona hospitals struggle with an increase in COVID-19 patients, some are postponing elective surgeries.

Valleywise Health Network says its number of COVID-19 patients has risen to the same amount it was a year ago. The health-care network has been forced to postpone elective surgeries to free up available beds. Valleywise will be treating surgeries on a case-by-case basis. 

Dr. Michael White is the chief clinical officer for Valleywise. 

“I suspect that's going to continue to ratchet down, where we’re only going to be able to do very urgent or emergent surgeries here as we continue to see the crunch for beds and the crunch of folks that need health care," White said. 

White says about 96% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients have not been vaccinated and urges everyone to get a vaccine. He added that the vaccine won’t prevent you from getting the virus but will likely keep you out of the hospital.