Thursday, March 25, 2021
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said Thursday she has no intention of removing the local mask mandate for the health and safety of Tucsonans.
Romero's comments at an afternoon press conference came after Gov. Doug Ducey's earlier announcement that lifted statewide COVID restrictions on businesses and gatherings and included a “phase out” of mask mandates. (Read more on Ducey’s new COVID-19 measures here.)
Romero warned that Ducey’s actions will only “exacerbate community transmission, prolonging the pandemic, and delaying a full reopening of our economy” and that they have clear legal authority to continue implementing the mandate.
The City of Tucson’s mask mandate, implemented last summer, was enacted under the powers extended to the city through its governing charter, including disease prevention. The charter's Chapter VII states: “Disease prevention. To make all regulations which may be necessary or expedient for the preservation of the health and the suppression of disease; to make regulations to prevent the introduction of contagious, infectious, or other diseases into the city; to make quarantine laws and regulations and to enforce the same within the city; to regulate, control and prevent the entry within the city of persons, baggage, merchandise or other property infected with contagious disease.”
“I know 1929 seems like a long time ago, but at the time the charter provision was included it wasn’t long after the community had experienced the Spanish Flu, when similar measures were put in place at that time,” said Rankin. “It’s not as if it was some theoretical need that the mayor and council might have in order to protect the community. It is a specific authority that the framers of the charter put together, embedded into the charter and that was approved by the voters of the city of Tucson and has remained part of the charter ever since.”
Rankin said the city had hoped to work with the county and the state to develop a regional or statewide mandate, but Romero eventually had to go it alone last June.
“It was important to have community protection,” said Rankin. “The mayor’s office and other mayors throughout the state had been working with the governor’s office to try to get these types of protections in place, statewide, and it became clear that that wasn’t going to happen, so ultimately the mayor and council took action and put mask requirements in place in June.”
In Ducey’s announcement, he questioned the efficacy of mask mandates and noted that where mandates had been in place, they "have rarely, if ever, been enforced.”
Romero said that the mask mandate is enforceable, but the Tucson Police Department has been taking an “educational approach,” encouraging anyone without a mask to wear one, and people can be given written warnings for noncompliance.
However, she emphasized that they will not expend resources in ticketing people and said, “this is for the benefit of the health of our community and not to ‘gotcha’ people. It is to help them comply with a public health ordinance.”
Romero said they will continue to coordinate with the Pima County Health Department and listen to their feedback.
Pima County Health Director Dr. Theresa Cullen will be issuing a new Public Health Advisory on March 26 to emphasize the need for continued mitigation and protection against the spread of COVID-19.
“As the governor readily admits, we are still in the midst of a public health emergency. People are still getting sick and dying. It is incumbent upon all of us to do everything we can to prevent the spread of this disease,” Dr. Cullen said. “We need everyone, not just businesses, to take this seriously. We are still in a very deadly situation and if we’re reckless in our behavior, it will get worse, especially now that the COVID variants are established in our county.”
The state fair, set for last fall, was cancelled due to the pandemic. The Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) offered to host the 2021 fair on the Wild Horse Pass Development Authority (WHPDA), larger than the State Fairgrounds in Phoenix.
In a letter to the board, GRIC stated, “WHPDA has the space and the know how to host and deliver a meaningful, safe and appropriately scaled outdoor event. It would be their honor to work with State and outside medical professionals to develop a plan to safely host the Arizona State Fair.”
GRIC Governor Stephen Roe said “Safety has been our number one priority during the pandemic and we are prepared to carry on this legacy for all of Arizona in the most supportive way possible.”
The GRIC offered to host a March fair; however, as the State works to finalize the date, it will likely be later this year, according to a release from Gov. Doug Ducey’s office.
Since last year, the State Fair has been a location for mass testing and vaccine distribution, by relocating temporarily, this would allow them to continue.
“While we are hopeful that vaccine distribution will mean a return to normality, this temporary location gives us the ability to plan and ensure the Fair goes on no matter what,” said Jonathan Lines, Chairman of the State Fair Board.
Ducey applauded the decision by the board.
“The Arizona State Fair is a beloved annual tradition for countless Arizona families,” said Governor Ducey. “This gracious offer by the Gila River Indian Community and today’s decision by the Arizona State Fair Board ensures that another year won’t pass without a State Fair.”
With more than 3 million Arizonans now vaccinated, Gov. Doug Ducey has announced updates to the state COVID-19 measures for local ordinances, businesses, and events.
The new changes include:
- Mask mandates by local governments will be phased out. The governor still encourages those who have not been vaccinated to wear a mask.
- Events with more than 50 people will no longer need approval from local governments but are still required to follow CDC recommendations.
- Business guidance will transition from requirements to recommendations.
- Bars can resume regular operations without needing a food component. The governor recommends requiring masks and social distancing.
The state has distributed 3,041,773 COVID-19 vaccines with 1,185,986 Arizonans being fully vaccinated and hospitalizations due to the virus have declined for 10 weeks, according to the governor's office.
"Today we are in a different spot and we are also a lot smarter," Ducey said. " I'm confident Arizona's businesses and citizens will continue to practice the fundamentals and act responsibly as we gradually get back to normal."
Earlier in the week, the governor denied FEMA from opening federal vaccination sites in Pima County that could've distributed up to 200,000 doses to Southern Arizonans.
The Pima County Board of Supervisors responded by unanimously approving a resolution to request the governor to reconsider his shot-block decision during an emergency meeting on Wednesday.
Ducey said he would reconsider his earlier decision only because "Board of Supervisors feel so strongly about it, but the objective is going to remain putting shots in arms," he said while getting a vaccine shot at the University of Arizona on Wednesday.
Read more about the governor's reconsidered decision here.
Mayor Regina Romero said she believes Ducey's actions are pre-mature and put Arizonans in jeopardy. Romero still intends to require masks in the city of Tucson in response to the governor's announced intention to phase out mask mandates of local municipalities, she said.
Photos were shot in and around the Tucson Mountains, especially in Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park West.
With 138 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases nears 838,000 as of Thursday, March 25, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Pima County, which reported 47 new cases today, has seen 112,045 of the state’s 837,987 confirmed cases.
With 32 new deaths reported this morning, a total of 16,874 Arizonans have died after contracting COVID-19, including 2,339 deaths in Pima County, according to the March 25 report.
A total of 628 coronavirus patients were in the hospital as of March 24. That’s roughly 12% of the number hospitalized at the peak of the winter surge, which reached 5,082 on Jan. 11. The summer peak was 3,517, which was set on July 13, 2020. The subsequent lowest number of hospitalized COVID patients was 468, set on Sept. 27, 2020.
A total of 973 people visited emergency rooms with COVID-like symptoms on March 24. That number represents 41% of the record high of 2,341 set on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. That number had peaked during the summer wave at 2,008 on July 7, 2020; it hit a subsequent low of 653 on Sept. 28, 2020.
A total of 165 COVID-19 patients were in intensive care unit beds on March 24, which roughly 14% of the record 1,183 ICU patients set on Jan. 11. The summer’s record number of patients in ICU beds was 970, set on July 13, 2020. The subsequent low was 114 on Sept. 22, 2020.
State continues to block effort to vaccinate 210 Pima County residents in low-income, minority neighborhoods
The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a resolution requesting Gov. Doug Ducey reconsider denying permission to set up a federal vaccination POD in Pima County.
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Board of Supervisors Calls on Ducey To Reconsider His Decision To Block FEMA Vax Site in Pima County
The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a resolution requesting Gov. Doug Ducey reconsider denying permission to set up a federal vaccination POD in Pima County.
The board also voted to seek help from the federal government if declined a second time at an emergency meeting on Wednesday.
The county would request “the Biden Administration, in keeping with their National Strategy Goals for COVID-19 vaccination, direct the Department of Homeland Security Secretary and the Acting Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator to establish a Type 1 Federal vaccination center to provide vaccine opportunities to disadvantaged and minority communities.”
At a press briefing Wednesday afternoon, Ducey said he would reconsider Pima County’s request to allow a federal POD vaccination site in Pima County, but only because “'Board of Supervisors feel so strongly about it, but the objective is going to remain putting shots in arms.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) first approached Pima County Health Department Director, Dr. Theresa Cullen, on the possibility of establishing a COVID-19 vaccination POD in Pima County about two weeks ago, according to County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry's March 24 memo.
However, the request required approval by the state and Ducey, through Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ, declined. While Ducey said he would revisit the request, the reasons given for declining remain the same.
In a letter in response to Christ, FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Tammy L. Littrell addressed each of Christ’s concerns about the federal POD taking vaccine supply, lacking state oversight and partnership, and concerns about customer experience and delays. Littrell said the vaccine supply provided to the state POD is independent of the vaccine supply that would be allocated for the federal POD. Further FEMA is seeking an “active partnership” with the state and “concerns for hours-long waits as the norm are unfounded.”
According to Huckelberry’s March 24 memo, county officials were told the state rejected the request because the site would require state support and support is unavailable.
Pima County will expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility on Thursday to anyone 55 and older and anyone older than 16 with at-risk circumstances.
Starting Thursday, anyone living with a high-risk medical condition or disability, experiencing homelessness or living in a group setting, or receiving in-home or long-term care can get the vaccine. Some of the high-risk medical conditions include cancer, chronic kidney disease, heart conditions or compromised immunity.
Those in high-risk jobs will also be elgible.
Gov. Doug Ducey announced on Monday that all Arizona residents older than 16 could get vaccinated starting Wednesday. Pima County's guidelines had to be limited, said Dr. Theresa Cullen, Health Department director.
“We realize that this is not fully aligned with what Governor Ducey announced earlier this week; however, our decisions are based on the current vaccination rates for 55 and up (which is at 42%), as well as our commitment to ensure ongoing access to vulnerable populations, Cullen said. “We anticipate appointments will be filled quickly and as we move these groups, we look forward to being able to align with the state's recommendations within the next six weeks.”
Photos were shot in and around the Tucson Mountains, especially in Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park West. All photos were shot with an iPhone 6, except for a few recent ones on an iPhone 12. There is no photo manipulation except the color filters in-camera. These are all straight shots.
With 605 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 837,000 as of Wednesday, March 24, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Pima County, which reported 48 new cases today, has seen 111,998 of the state’s 837,849 confirmed cases.
With 53 new deaths reported this morning, a total of 16,842 Arizonans have died after contracting COVID-19, including 2,338 deaths in Pima County, according to the March 24 report.
A total of 653 coronavirus patients were in the hospital as of March 23. That’s roughly 13% of the number hospitalized at the peak of the winter surge, which reached 5,082 on Jan. 11. The summer peak was 3,517, which was set on July 13, 2020. The subsequent lowest number of hospitalized COVID patients was 468, set on Sept. 27, 2020.
A total of 1,109 people visited emergency rooms with COVID-like symptoms on March 23. That number represents 47% of the record high of 2,341 set on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. That number had peaked during the summer wave at 2,008 on July 7, 2020; it hit a subsequent low of 653 on Sept. 28, 2020.
A total of 162 COVID-19 patients were in intensive care unit beds on March 23, which roughly 13% of the record 1,183 ICU patients set on Jan. 11. The summer’s record number of patients in ICU beds was 970, set on July 13, 2020. The subsequent low was 114 on Sept. 22, 2020.
Local mayors ask Ducey to reconsider decision to block FEMA from setting up vaccination sites in Pima County
Pima County officials have been working with FEMA staff in recent weeks on various vaccination efforts. FEMA and Pima County were in talks to set up vaccination clinics at the Kino Event Center and El Pueblo Community Center, two sites that are now being converted into walk-in vaccination clinics. The clinics would have provided enough doses to vaccinate an estimated 210,000 Pima County residents, many of them minority and low income.
