Tuesday, April 28, 2020
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As some governors prepare to relax social distancing restrictions in their states, ProPublica hosted a digital event on Thursday answering your questions on how to safely leave home, reopen businesses and return to work. Based on a recent ProPublica article that pulled together seven key lessons learned by scientists, doctors and researchers in other countries that have battled the virus, the digital event assembled Editor-in-Chief Stephen Engelberg; health care reporter Caroline Chen; and Andy Slavitt, former head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to take questions and share what they’ve learned that can help all Americans for the days, weeks and months ahead.
“I think the big takeaway is there’s no such thing as returning to normal,” Chen said of what she learned after interviewing front-line officials from Italy, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea. “And the goal should not be ‘normal.’”
She found that the experts she consulted consistently recommended that governors should plan to track where the virus is spreading by coordinating a large army of contract tracers and have a well-thought-out plan for isolating infected people. Across the board, they expressed the idea of never letting one’s guard down. “You cannot relax,” she said. “Because the second you relax, there’s going to be a second wave.”
As some governors prepare to relax social distancing restrictions in their states, ProPublica hosted a digital event on Thursday answering your questions on how to safely leave home, reopen businesses and return to work. Based on a recent ProPublica article that pulled together seven key lessons learned by scientists, doctors and researchers in other countries that have battled the virus, the digital event assembled Editor-in-Chief Stephen Engelberg; health care reporter Caroline Chen; and Andy Slavitt, former head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to take questions and share what they’ve learned that can help all Americans for the days, weeks and months ahead.
“I think the big takeaway is there’s no such thing as returning to normal,” Chen said of what she learned after interviewing front-line officials from Italy, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea. “And the goal should not be ‘normal.’”
She found that the experts she consulted consistently recommended that governors should plan to track where the virus is spreading by coordinating a large army of contract tracers and have a well-thought-out plan for isolating infected people. Across the board, they expressed the idea of never letting one’s guard down. “You cannot relax,” she said. “Because the second you relax, there’s going to be a second wave.”
PHOENIX – To increase statewide testing for COVID-19, Gov. Doug Ducey announced a plan Monday to test up to 60,000 Arizonans over the course of three weekends.
Starting May 2, the state and its health partners plan to mount an Arizona Testing Blitz, with onsite and drive-thru testing. Testing sites include some Banner Health facilities and Walgreens stores, and criteria will be set by each individual location. Testing sites and dates will be continuously updated, the announcement said.
“Arizona has placed an emphasis on ramping up testing, but we need more,” wrote Ducey, whose March 30 stay-at-home order is set to expire Thursday.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is among the organizations addressing the need for more testing. About 5,000 local firefighters, law enforcement officers and other first responders will have access to COVID-19 antibody testing starting Monday, the insurance giant said.
Starting May 2, the state and its health partners plan to mount an Arizona Testing Blitz, with onsite and drive-thru testing. Testing sites include some Banner Health facilities and Walgreens stores, and criteria will be set by each individual location. Testing sites and dates will be continuously updated, the announcement said.
“Arizona has placed an emphasis on ramping up testing, but we need more,” wrote Ducey, whose March 30 stay-at-home order is set to expire Thursday.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is among the organizations addressing the need for more testing. About 5,000 local firefighters, law enforcement officers and other first responders will have access to COVID-19 antibody testing starting Monday, the insurance giant said.
The Pima County Health Department will be led by former Assistant U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Theresa Cullen on June 7 after county administrator Chuck Huckelberry announced the hiring on Monday.
Cullen will replace interim health director Dr. Bob England, who came out of retirement to fill the role until the county replaced Marcy Flanagan, PhD. Flanagan left Pima County to take the director’s spot at the Maricopa County Health Department in 2019.
England will stay on as a part-time physician to assist the county through the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery. Cullen will begin working part-time May 4 as vice-chair of the county’s Back to Business Task Force.
“This is huge for Pima County. I am thrilled to have Dr. Cullen join our team,” said Pima County Chief Medical Officer and Deputy County Administrator Dr. Francisco Garcia, in the announcement. “Dr. Cullen is a respected and eminent public health physician who also is an exceptional administrator. She knows Pima County and Southern Arizona well and will build upon the strategies and programs we’ve established over the past decade to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in Pima County.”
Cullen is a graduate of the University of Arizona College of Medicine, where she is also a clinical professor.
In her new role with Pima County, she will be responsible for leading the response to COVID-19. Cullen previously worked during the 2014/15 Ebola crisis as a volunteer physician with Partners in Health in Sierra Leone.
Cullen will replace interim health director Dr. Bob England, who came out of retirement to fill the role until the county replaced Marcy Flanagan, PhD. Flanagan left Pima County to take the director’s spot at the Maricopa County Health Department in 2019.
England will stay on as a part-time physician to assist the county through the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery. Cullen will begin working part-time May 4 as vice-chair of the county’s Back to Business Task Force.
“This is huge for Pima County. I am thrilled to have Dr. Cullen join our team,” said Pima County Chief Medical Officer and Deputy County Administrator Dr. Francisco Garcia, in the announcement. “Dr. Cullen is a respected and eminent public health physician who also is an exceptional administrator. She knows Pima County and Southern Arizona well and will build upon the strategies and programs we’ve established over the past decade to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in Pima County.”
Cullen is a graduate of the University of Arizona College of Medicine, where she is also a clinical professor.
In her new role with Pima County, she will be responsible for leading the response to COVID-19. Cullen previously worked during the 2014/15 Ebola crisis as a volunteer physician with Partners in Health in Sierra Leone.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona reached 6,948 as of Tuesday, April 28, according to the morning report from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Pima County had 1,188 confirmed cases.
The coronavirus had killed 293 people statewide, including 76 in Pima County, according to the report.
In Maricopa County, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases had risen to 3,578.
Because testing remains limited in Arizona and COVID-19 symptoms can take as long as two weeks to appear after exposure to the virus (while some people can remain entirely asymptomatic), health officials continue to urge the public to avoid unnecessary trips and gatherings of more than 10 people and have advised people to cover their faces with masks in public.
This week, Gov. Doug Ducey’s stay-home-home order, which drew a two-day protest earlier this month at the state Capitol, expires on Thursday, April 30.
The order has closed a wide variety of “non-essential” businesses, including bars, barbershops, salons, theaters, gyms, swap meets and many retail stores. Restaurants may remain open but only for takeout and delivery service. Public parks remain open but amenities such as playgrounds and restrooms are closed.
Ducey spokesman Patrick Ptak said that administration officials were still tracking data to determine the best course of action regarding whether the stay-at-home order would be extended into May. Ptak said there were three options under consideration.
“We can let the order expire. We can extend it as is. Or we can extend it with changes and modifications that reflect Arizona’s improving situation on the ground,” Ptak said. “The decision will be based on the data over the next week as well as the guidance and recommendations of public health officials.”
Pima County had 1,188 confirmed cases.
The coronavirus had killed 293 people statewide, including 76 in Pima County, according to the report.
In Maricopa County, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases had risen to 3,578.
Because testing remains limited in Arizona and COVID-19 symptoms can take as long as two weeks to appear after exposure to the virus (while some people can remain entirely asymptomatic), health officials continue to urge the public to avoid unnecessary trips and gatherings of more than 10 people and have advised people to cover their faces with masks in public.
This week, Gov. Doug Ducey’s stay-home-home order, which drew a two-day protest earlier this month at the state Capitol, expires on Thursday, April 30.
The order has closed a wide variety of “non-essential” businesses, including bars, barbershops, salons, theaters, gyms, swap meets and many retail stores. Restaurants may remain open but only for takeout and delivery service. Public parks remain open but amenities such as playgrounds and restrooms are closed.
Ducey spokesman Patrick Ptak said that administration officials were still tracking data to determine the best course of action regarding whether the stay-at-home order would be extended into May. Ptak said there were three options under consideration.
“We can let the order expire. We can extend it as is. Or we can extend it with changes and modifications that reflect Arizona’s improving situation on the ground,” Ptak said. “The decision will be based on the data over the next week as well as the guidance and recommendations of public health officials.”
Monday, April 27, 2020
Tucson Local Media file photo
A camper throws a dodge ball at Oro Valley's 2016 summer camp at its community center. The town has camps planned this year, but the possible continuance of Gov. Ducey's stay-home order has thrown a wrench in the gears.
The delay will affect programs at the Catalina, Ellie Towne Flowing Wells, Littletown, Robles Ranch, Arivaca, Drexel Heights, and Picture Rocks community centers.
The delay is in order to wait for updated guidance from the state regarding operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Program manager Kelly Cheeseman, staff will need time to reevaluate their programs to meet upcoming phases for re-opening.
“We need to figure out how we’re going to manage programs based on limitations of the current state of the world,” Cheeseman said.
The University of Arizona will soon begin analyzing hundreds of thousands of blood samples from healthcare workers and first responders to determine COVID-19 exposure this week as part of a $3.5 million partnership with the state.
As previously reported by Tucson Local Media, the university was awarded the funding for 250,000 tests. The first phase of testing will begin in Pima County this Thursday, April 30, according to UA, and will include 3,000 samples.
Testing for the rest of the state’s front line workers will take place through May 7. With separate funds, the university will also test 1,500 members of the Pima County community. UA President Robert Robbins also recently announced plans to test the majority of the university’s 45,000 students and 15,000 employees.
The antibody tests are built upon the work of UA immunobiology professor Janko Nikolich-Žugich and associate professor Deepta Bhattacharya. The test will help determine how many people have been exposed to COVID-19 and how many have built an immunity against it.
As previously reported by Tucson Local Media, the university was awarded the funding for 250,000 tests. The first phase of testing will begin in Pima County this Thursday, April 30, according to UA, and will include 3,000 samples.
Testing for the rest of the state’s front line workers will take place through May 7. With separate funds, the university will also test 1,500 members of the Pima County community. UA President Robert Robbins also recently announced plans to test the majority of the university’s 45,000 students and 15,000 employees.
The antibody tests are built upon the work of UA immunobiology professor Janko Nikolich-Žugich and associate professor Deepta Bhattacharya. The test will help determine how many people have been exposed to COVID-19 and how many have built an immunity against it.
Southern Arizona food banks are receiving much-needed support from both Pima County and Santa Cruz County along with the Arizona National Guard to help serve the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson and Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce Bracker have teamed up to address the needs of not only their respective counties but Yuma County and Cochise County as well.
Last week the Pima County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to amend the City of Tucson and Pima County Consortium 2014-2019 HUD Consolidated Plan and the Pima County Annual Action Plan to free up $630,000 split between various agencies addressing the public’s needs during the pandemic. Bronson was instrumental in making sure the county took action quickly.
It took the county about a week to diagnose who needed funding and where the county could get the funding, said Bronson.
“When you have to do something, you have to do it—you don’t wait,” Bronson said. “We needed to rethink what we’re doing with our COVID-19 response. If we don’t respond quickly, we’re negligent.”
Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson and Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce Bracker have teamed up to address the needs of not only their respective counties but Yuma County and Cochise County as well.
Last week the Pima County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to amend the City of Tucson and Pima County Consortium 2014-2019 HUD Consolidated Plan and the Pima County Annual Action Plan to free up $630,000 split between various agencies addressing the public’s needs during the pandemic. Bronson was instrumental in making sure the county took action quickly.
It took the county about a week to diagnose who needed funding and where the county could get the funding, said Bronson.
“When you have to do something, you have to do it—you don’t wait,” Bronson said. “We needed to rethink what we’re doing with our COVID-19 response. If we don’t respond quickly, we’re negligent.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the county's ongoing efforts to reduce the Pima County jail population.
The average daily population was 1,428 as of last week. Before the pandemic, the jail had an ADP of around 1,900, according to April 25 memo from Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry to the Board of Supervisors.
Huckelberry said there has been a "rapid decline" in daily bookings since around March 11, and he hopes that future bookings will be only for those who are an "actual danger to our community." A coalition of criminal justice agencies in the county have worked to reduce the number people in jail for nonviolent, low level drug offenses for years, with slower progress.
The decline in new bookings, coupled with recent efforts from the Pima County Public Defender's Office to secure the releases of people who were accused of nonviolent crimes and simply couldn't pay their bail, have resulted in a lower jail population, which is crucial in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
"It is ironic that all of our previous actions and activities associated with attempting to reduce our detention populations have been difficult," Huckelberry wrote in his memo. "However, the COVID-19 pandemic has succeeded in what previously has been difficult to accomplish."
Noelle Haro-Gomez
UA women’s basketball coach Adia Barnes was one of the speakers scheduled for the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona luncheon this week. Barnes will still be speaking via video for the virtual fundraiser that has moved online.
But in an effort to still raise money for groups and initiatives that work to improve the quality of life for local women and girls, the Women's Foundation has decided to reboot the annual luncheon into an online event that people can participate in right from the comfort of their homes.
“Cancelling our luncheon at Tucson Convention Center was heartbreaking,” said Women’s Foundation CEO Amalia Luxardo in a press release. “This is one of the only fundraisers in our community dedicated to supporting women and girls’ work, so it was an especially difficult decision to make knowing that women are hit particularly hard by the economic impact of pandemic.”
The Women's Foundation had asked University of Arizona Women’s Basketball Head Coach Adia Barnes and Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR CEO Barbi Reuter to speak at their event, and both have agreed to do interviews as part of the foundation's new #SuperShero campaign, which is designed to "inform and uplift" women during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Women's Foundation had asked University of Arizona Women’s Basketball Head Coach Adia Barnes and Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR CEO Barbi Reuter to speak at their event, and both have agreed to do interviews as part of the foundation's new #SuperShero campaign, which is designed to "inform and uplift" women during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These amazing women have messages we need to hear whether we’re in the midst of a crisis or not,” Luxardo said. “So we thought, why not make this content available online to a wider audience? The luncheon is about celebrating the amazing work people are doing to empower women and girls; we can do that from our living rooms."
The new online event will feature videos with Barnes, Reuter and their 2020 honoree Pamela Grissom of Arizona List, an organization that supports pro-choice Democratic women running for office in Arizona.
The event will be streamed live on Facebook and at womengiving.org. Luxardo will host and interact live with attendees. While it is a free event, donations are being accepted. The cost of a ticket to the in-person event was $95.
Tags: Women's Foundation , Amalia Luxardo , Fundraiser , Online , Facebook , Livestream , COVID19 , Image
Want to help out service industry workers across Pima County who are hurting as the governor-mandated shutdown continues? A local barman has made it easy for the public to tip their favorite bartender or server using the interwebs.
The group is called Tips for Tucson, hosted by a Facebook page and a google docs spreadsheet. Tips for Tucson even made a video, shot and produced by Tyler Lidwell Videography, and features many bartenders from around Tucson’s nightlife scene helping get the word out.
The idea came to local bartender Kyle Blessinger over a morning whiskey with his friend Eric Smith, a bartender at the temporarily shuttered Kingfisher. Earlier, Smith had forwarded Blessinger a post about what bartenders in Indianapolis were doing to raise cash during the pandemic—a virtual tip jar.
“I was having a morning whiskey because it’s quarantine and there are no rules. Eric had forwarded me this idea,” Blessinger said. “We got to talking and I said, “Dude, we have to do something and this is easy.'”
Bartenders and servers depend on tips to supplement their income since they are paid a lower minimum wage rate—currently $8 per hour in Arizona. While applying for unemployment benefits may seem like the best option, Blessinger notes there can be a lot of down-time between applying and actually being approved for assistance. It took more than five weeks for Blessinger to receive benefits, he said.
The group is called Tips for Tucson, hosted by a Facebook page and a google docs spreadsheet. Tips for Tucson even made a video, shot and produced by Tyler Lidwell Videography, and features many bartenders from around Tucson’s nightlife scene helping get the word out.
The idea came to local bartender Kyle Blessinger over a morning whiskey with his friend Eric Smith, a bartender at the temporarily shuttered Kingfisher. Earlier, Smith had forwarded Blessinger a post about what bartenders in Indianapolis were doing to raise cash during the pandemic—a virtual tip jar.
“I was having a morning whiskey because it’s quarantine and there are no rules. Eric had forwarded me this idea,” Blessinger said. “We got to talking and I said, “Dude, we have to do something and this is easy.'”
Bartenders and servers depend on tips to supplement their income since they are paid a lower minimum wage rate—currently $8 per hour in Arizona. While applying for unemployment benefits may seem like the best option, Blessinger notes there can be a lot of down-time between applying and actually being approved for assistance. It took more than five weeks for Blessinger to receive benefits, he said.
Tags: tips for tucson , bartenders , servers , covid19 , Image , Video
