Tuesday, May 5, 2020
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona topped 9,000 as of Tuesday, May 5, according to the morning report from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Pima County had 1,379 of the states’ 9,305 confirmed cases.
The coronavirus had killed 395 people statewide, including 105 in Pima County, according to the report.
In Maricopa County, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases had risen to 4,929.
Although the state began a “testing blitz” over the weekend, Arizona lags other states in testing for COVID-19. Because 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.
Arizona remains under a stay-at-home order through May 15, but Gov. Doug Ducey has modified his emergency declaration. Many stores have reopened with curbside and delivery business. Customers will be able to browse inside stores and get haircuts beginning on Friday, while restaurants can begin serving customers next week. Ducey has set up various new regulations, including requirements to wear masks and a heightened cleaning regimen.
People are still advised to limit contact and many businesses must remain closed, but Ducey said he wanted the state’s economy to gradually reopen.
“These habits we've acquired over the last 45 days will not be with us forever, but they will be with us for the time being,” Ducey said.
Ducey said that he will decide how to move forward based on what future testing shows regarding the spread of the virus, but explained it would be a gradual reopening of businesses now closed.
Pima County had 1,379 of the states’ 9,305 confirmed cases.
The coronavirus had killed 395 people statewide, including 105 in Pima County, according to the report.
In Maricopa County, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases had risen to 4,929.
Although the state began a “testing blitz” over the weekend, Arizona lags other states in testing for COVID-19. Because 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.
Arizona remains under a stay-at-home order through May 15, but Gov. Doug Ducey has modified his emergency declaration. Many stores have reopened with curbside and delivery business. Customers will be able to browse inside stores and get haircuts beginning on Friday, while restaurants can begin serving customers next week. Ducey has set up various new regulations, including requirements to wear masks and a heightened cleaning regimen.
People are still advised to limit contact and many businesses must remain closed, but Ducey said he wanted the state’s economy to gradually reopen.
“These habits we've acquired over the last 45 days will not be with us forever, but they will be with us for the time being,” Ducey said.
Ducey said that he will decide how to move forward based on what future testing shows regarding the spread of the virus, but explained it would be a gradual reopening of businesses now closed.
Monday, May 4, 2020
May the Fourth be with you. Here are the stories that we covered today.
- The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona topped 8,900 as of Monday, May 4, according to the morning report from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
- Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey gave a “green light” to reopen more businesses, he announced during a Monday press conference, including dine-in services at restaurants and barbers and salons.
- While local Democratic officials have been cautiously supportive of Gov. Doug Ducey's decision to keep Arizona's stay-at-home order in place through May 15 while lifting some restrictions for retail businesses, some Republican state lawmakers say Ducey isn't moving fast enough to reopen Arizona.
- The YMCA of Southern Arizona is accepting childcare applications from healthcare workers, first responders and other essential workers through May 22, the company announced.
- The Town of Sahuarita will reopen all town services and facilities this Friday, May 8, including the town clerk’s office, planning, and building, the Anamax Recreation Center, and more—although programming is still delayed.
- Arizona assisted living communities are gearing up to hire aspiring caregivers after Gov. Doug Ducey signed an executive order last month allowing on-the-job training for caregiver certification amid an entry-level healthcare worker shortage.
- Two physicians from the University of Arizona are among the authors of a new research paper detailing the best practice guidelines for patients in intensive care units requiring advanced life-saving therapies due to COVID-19.
- Antibody tests are meant to recognize a past infection. Many of these have hit the market in recent weeks and are being offered at local clinics.
- Democratic members of Congress are urging President Donald Trump to authorize FEMA to reimburse funeral expenses for victims of the coronavirus pandemic, citing ProPublica’s reporting about the administration’s policies.
- In an April report that warns of the risks of fraud in mail-in voting, a conservative legal group significantly inflated a key statistic, a ProPublica analysis found.
- Before restrictions are raised, there are still plenty of restaurants that are open for take-out and delivery services.
In an April report that warns of the risks of fraud in mail-in voting, a conservative legal group significantly inflated a key statistic, a ProPublica analysis found. The Public Interest Legal Foundation reported that more than 1 million ballots sent out to voters in 2018 were returned as undeliverable. Taken at face value, that would represent a 91% increase over the number of undeliverable mail ballots in 2016, a sign that a vote-by-mail system would be a “catastrophe” for elections, the group argued.
However, after ProPublica provided evidence to PILF that it had in fact doubled the official government numbers, the organization corrected its figure. The number of undeliverable mail ballots dropped slightly from 2016 to 2018.
The PILF report said that one in five mail ballots issued between 2012 and 2018, a total of 28.3 million, were not returned by voters and were “missing,” which, according to the organization, creates an opportunity for fraud. In a May 1 tweet that included a link to coverage of the report, President Donald Trump wrote: “Don’t allow RIGGED ELECTIONS.”
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published.
Many people across the country experienced COVID-19 symptoms but could not get a test to confirm if they actually had the virus. Now some are looking to a different kind of coronavirus test for answers.
Antibody tests are meant to recognize a past infection. Many of these have hit the market in recent weeks and are being offered at local clinics. Officials have touted the tests as crucial for reopening the economy and developing public health strategies to contain the virus.
But there are still questions about how accurate they are. And even with a very good test, it's possible to test positive for antibodies even when you don't actually have them. Watch our new video to learn why.
Many people across the country experienced COVID-19 symptoms but could not get a test to confirm if they actually had the virus. Now some are looking to a different kind of coronavirus test for answers.
Antibody tests are meant to recognize a past infection. Many of these have hit the market in recent weeks and are being offered at local clinics. Officials have touted the tests as crucial for reopening the economy and developing public health strategies to contain the virus.
But there are still questions about how accurate they are. And even with a very good test, it's possible to test positive for antibodies even when you don't actually have them. Watch our new video to learn why.
The YMCA of Southern Arizona is accepting childcare applications from healthcare workers, first responders and other essential workers through May 22, the company announced.
The move, intended to help Tucson families meet their needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, opens up childcare opportunities at six total sites for children between 1 and 12.
“Before the current crisis, we offered a variety of services to our community, however, we immediately recognized the tremendous need for emergency child care as everyone’s daily lives changed instantly,” said YMCA President and CEO Kurtis Dawson, in a statement. “We currently serve more than 200 kids every day and are happy to be able to continue serving our community as the demands intensify. Our team is committed to providing a safe place for children where they can learn, grow, and thrive even during these challenging times.”
Financial assistance is available through the Arizona Department of Economic Security’s child care program and the Priority Care Assistance Program, and tiered pricing is available at the Y, beginning at $15 per day.
After May 22, the organization will switch to operating summer day camp programming. For more information visit tucsonymca.org or email [email protected]
The move, intended to help Tucson families meet their needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, opens up childcare opportunities at six total sites for children between 1 and 12.
“Before the current crisis, we offered a variety of services to our community, however, we immediately recognized the tremendous need for emergency child care as everyone’s daily lives changed instantly,” said YMCA President and CEO Kurtis Dawson, in a statement. “We currently serve more than 200 kids every day and are happy to be able to continue serving our community as the demands intensify. Our team is committed to providing a safe place for children where they can learn, grow, and thrive even during these challenging times.”
Financial assistance is available through the Arizona Department of Economic Security’s child care program and the Priority Care Assistance Program, and tiered pricing is available at the Y, beginning at $15 per day.
After May 22, the organization will switch to operating summer day camp programming. For more information visit tucsonymca.org or email [email protected]
Tags: childcare , summer , camp , ymca , emergency , covid19 , Image
Courtesy State of Arizona
State Rep. Mark Finchem says Ducey's extension of Arizona's stay-at-home order was "wholly unacceptable."
Rep. Mark Finchem, an Oro Valley Republican who represents Legislative District 11, condemned Ducey’s decision to extend the shutdown, saying that quarantine should be only for people who are currently sick or showing symptoms of being sick.
He said the move was “wholly unacceptable” and he and other state lawmakers are planning to draft a ballot initiative in response to what they see as government overreach.
“That’ll be next year’s session, if we have the opportunity,” Finchem said. “It will limit the authority of mayors and future governors to wholesale shut down the economy and deprive people of their sustenance and their ability to feed their families.”
Finchem said the steps Ducey took cannot be justified considering a lack of meaningful data on the virus. He also wants to explore the possibility of furloughing some state government employees.
“If he’s going to define nonessential businesses, then we also need to take a close look at nonessential government functions,” Finchem said.
Marvin Slepian, left, and Christian Bime represent the University of Arizona on a new international collaboration of academic and medical professionals.
Two physicians from the University of Arizona are among the authors of a new research paper detailing the best practice guidelines for patients in intensive care units requiring advanced life-saving therapies due to COVID-19.
Regents Professor Marvin Slepian and assistant professor Christian Bime of the Department of Medicine drew on their years of experience to help write “Advanced Pulmonary and Cardiac Support of COVID-19 Patients: Emerging Recommendations from ASAIO” just published from the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs. The paper appears in the latest issues of the ASAIO Journal as well as the journal Circulation: Heart Failure.
Described as a "Living Working Document," the paper will be continually updated on the ASAIO website as new information on COVID-19 and care for critically ill patients comes to light.
Tags: ua , uarizona , physicians , paper , covid , therapy , Image
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona topped 8,900 as of Monday, May 4, according to the morning report from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Pima County had 1,346 confirmed cases.
The coronavirus had killed 362 people statewide, including 89 in Pima County, according to the report.
In Maricopa County, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases had risen to 4,751.
Although the state began a “testing blitz” over the weekend, testing remains limited in Arizona. Because 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.
Arizona remains under a stay-at-home order through May 15, but Gov. Doug Ducey announced last week he would modify his emergency declaration so some retail shops could begin reopening this week provided they limited contact with customers by offering curbside pickup or did business by appointment or delivery.
People are still advised to limit contact and many businesses must remain closed, but Ducey said he wanted the state’s economy to gradually reopen.
“These habits we've acquired over the last 45 days will not be with us forever, but they will be with us for the time being,” Ducey said.
Ducey said that he will decide how to move forward based on what future testing shows regarding the spread of the virus, but explained it would be a gradual reopening of businesses now closed.
Ducey's decision won support from both Democrats and business leaders but drew criticism from lawmakers in his own party.
Pima County had 1,346 confirmed cases.
The coronavirus had killed 362 people statewide, including 89 in Pima County, according to the report.
In Maricopa County, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases had risen to 4,751.
Although the state began a “testing blitz” over the weekend, testing remains limited in Arizona. Because 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.
Arizona remains under a stay-at-home order through May 15, but Gov. Doug Ducey announced last week he would modify his emergency declaration so some retail shops could begin reopening this week provided they limited contact with customers by offering curbside pickup or did business by appointment or delivery.
People are still advised to limit contact and many businesses must remain closed, but Ducey said he wanted the state’s economy to gradually reopen.
“These habits we've acquired over the last 45 days will not be with us forever, but they will be with us for the time being,” Ducey said.
Ducey said that he will decide how to move forward based on what future testing shows regarding the spread of the virus, but explained it would be a gradual reopening of businesses now closed.
Ducey's decision won support from both Democrats and business leaders but drew criticism from lawmakers in his own party.
Friday, May 1, 2020
Americans are facing an invisible enemy and one of our greatest challenges ever as a nation.
To date, Congress has passed, and the president has signed into law, four legislative packages to mitigate the public health and economic impacts of the coronavirus.
Unfortunately, many of these new programs and provisions to assist families, businesses, local governments, and health systems have not provided the same positive impact on rural Arizona as they have on other parts of our country.
This crisis has shone a brighter light on America’s urban-rural divide. Students are dealing with the difficulties of online school without the high-speed broadband they need to succeed. Long neglected public health infrastructure is starting to crumble as funding dries up, and treasured mom-and-pop businesses across our communities are unable to secure the federal loans and grants they were promised.
Should drastic changes not occur in the next COVID-19 package, Congress will once again leave rural America behind. As Congress crafts future COVID-19 response packages, we must focus on five core issues.
1. Prioritize patients, health care workers, first responders, and hospitals who are on the front lines of this public health emergency.
We must ensure that rural hospitals, health clinics, and community health centers are receiving the funding, PPE, and testing kits they need. These smaller clinics are the primary health care stop for hundreds of thousands of Arizonans a year, especially in underserved, rural areas.
2. Assist small businesses by keeping the promises we’ve made and ensuring infrastructure to maintain these new programs is in place.
To date, Congress has passed, and the president has signed into law, four legislative packages to mitigate the public health and economic impacts of the coronavirus.
Unfortunately, many of these new programs and provisions to assist families, businesses, local governments, and health systems have not provided the same positive impact on rural Arizona as they have on other parts of our country.
This crisis has shone a brighter light on America’s urban-rural divide. Students are dealing with the difficulties of online school without the high-speed broadband they need to succeed. Long neglected public health infrastructure is starting to crumble as funding dries up, and treasured mom-and-pop businesses across our communities are unable to secure the federal loans and grants they were promised.
Should drastic changes not occur in the next COVID-19 package, Congress will once again leave rural America behind. As Congress crafts future COVID-19 response packages, we must focus on five core issues.
1. Prioritize patients, health care workers, first responders, and hospitals who are on the front lines of this public health emergency.
We must ensure that rural hospitals, health clinics, and community health centers are receiving the funding, PPE, and testing kits they need. These smaller clinics are the primary health care stop for hundreds of thousands of Arizonans a year, especially in underserved, rural areas.
2. Assist small businesses by keeping the promises we’ve made and ensuring infrastructure to maintain these new programs is in place.
Justice of the Peace Paula Aboud, a former state lawmaker, is among the three candidates for Justice of the Peace in Pima County who won't be on ballot this year after challenges to nominating petitions.
Aboud, who served in the Arizona Legislature from 2006 to 2012, withdrew her candidacy rather than defend her nominating petitions in a court hearing.
She did not immediately return a call for Weekly seeking comment.
Aboud was elected Justice of the Peace in Precinct 6 in 2016. In 2017, she was censured by the Arizona Supreme Court after she was caught trying to sneak a peek at answers to an exam during an orientation for new judges. Aboud said her actions were a prank.
Aboud's departure from the race leaves only Alexander Ball in the August Democratic primary for the Precinct 6 race. No Republican filed to run in the precinct.
Two other JP candidates are also off the ballot after challenges to their nominating petitions.
In Justice Precinct 2, Republican John Maley was removed from the ballot by court order this week. Incumbent Justice of the Peace Erica Cornejo now faces no opposition to her reelection effort.
In Justice Precinct 9, Democrat Alfonso Ramirez withdrew rather than defend his nominating petitions, leaving incumbent Justice of the Peace Kendrick Wilson with no opponents on the road to reelection.
In other ballot-bouncing news, Trista Tramposch di Genova-Chang was booted from the race for Board of Supervisors District 5 after a judge determined she had insufficient signatures. The race for the late Richard Elías' seat now has TUSD Board member Adelita Grijalva facing Sunnyside School Board member Consuelo Hernandez in the Democratic primary. The winner of that contest will face Republican Fernando Gonzales in the November general election.
In Legislative District 3, Democrat Javier Soto survived a challenge to his petitions. He is facing incumbent Reps. Andrés Cano and Alma Hernandez in the Democratic primary for the Arizona House of Representatives.
Correction: This post earlier said that there was a primary brewing in Justice Precinct 6.
Aboud, who served in the Arizona Legislature from 2006 to 2012, withdrew her candidacy rather than defend her nominating petitions in a court hearing.
She did not immediately return a call for Weekly seeking comment.
Aboud was elected Justice of the Peace in Precinct 6 in 2016. In 2017, she was censured by the Arizona Supreme Court after she was caught trying to sneak a peek at answers to an exam during an orientation for new judges. Aboud said her actions were a prank.
Aboud's departure from the race leaves only Alexander Ball in the August Democratic primary for the Precinct 6 race. No Republican filed to run in the precinct.
Two other JP candidates are also off the ballot after challenges to their nominating petitions.
In Justice Precinct 2, Republican John Maley was removed from the ballot by court order this week. Incumbent Justice of the Peace Erica Cornejo now faces no opposition to her reelection effort.
In Justice Precinct 9, Democrat Alfonso Ramirez withdrew rather than defend his nominating petitions, leaving incumbent Justice of the Peace Kendrick Wilson with no opponents on the road to reelection.
In other ballot-bouncing news, Trista Tramposch di Genova-Chang was booted from the race for Board of Supervisors District 5 after a judge determined she had insufficient signatures. The race for the late Richard Elías' seat now has TUSD Board member Adelita Grijalva facing Sunnyside School Board member Consuelo Hernandez in the Democratic primary. The winner of that contest will face Republican Fernando Gonzales in the November general election.
In Legislative District 3, Democrat Javier Soto survived a challenge to his petitions. He is facing incumbent Reps. Andrés Cano and Alma Hernandez in the Democratic primary for the Arizona House of Representatives.
Correction: This post earlier said that there was a primary brewing in Justice Precinct 6.
