Monday, November 23, 2020
With more than 2,659 new cases reported today, the number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases soared past 300,000 as of Monday, Nov. 23, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Pima County, which reported 544 new cases today, has seen 36,659 of the state’s 302,324 confirmed cases.
A total of 6,464 Arizonans had died after contracting COVID-19, including 674 deaths in Pima County, according to the Nov. 23 report.
The number of hospitalized COVID cases statewide continues to climb upward as the virus has begun to spread more rapidly. ADHS reported that as of Nov. 22, 2,008 COVID patients were hospitalized in the state, the highest that number has been since Aug. 3. That number peaked with 3,517 hospitalized COVID patients on July 13; it hit a subsequent low of 468 on Sept. 27.
A total of 1,372 people visited emergency rooms on Nov. 22 with COVID symptoms. That number peaked at 2,008 on July 7; it hit a subsequent low of 653 on Sept. 28.
A total of 469 COVID-19 patients were in intensive care unit beds on Nov. 22, the highest that number has been since Aug. 13. The number of COVID patients in ICUs peaked at 970 on July 13 and hit a subsequent low of 114 on Sept. 22.
On a week-by-week basis in Pima County, the number of positive COVID tests peaked the week ending July 4 with 2,452 cases, according to an Nov. 20 report from the Pima County Health Department. (Numbers in this report are subject to revision.)
Pima County is seeing a dramatic rise in cases in recent weeks. For the week ending Oct. 24, 935 cases were reported; for the week ending Oct. 31, 1,345 cases were reported; for the week ending Nov. 7, 2,120 cases were reported; and for the week ending Nov. 14, 2,509 cases were reported.
Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry noted that the county had seen 4,620 cases in the first 17 days in November.
“For the first 17 days in July, the worst month of COVID-19 case increases to date, there were 5,057 cases,” Huckleberry said in a Nov. 17 memo. “Therefore, we are on pace to exceed the total number of monthly COVID-19 infections in our previous worst month, July.”
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
With more than 3,200 new cases reported today, the number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases soared past 283,000 as of Wednesday, Nov. 18, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Pima County, which reported 378 new cases today, has seen 33,822 of the state’s 283,102 confirmed cases.
With 53 new deaths reported today, a total of 6,365 Arizonans had died after contracting COVID-19, including 674 deaths in Pima County, according to the Nov. 18 report.
The number of hospitalized COVID cases statewide continues to climb upward as the virus has begun to spread more rapidly. ADHS reported that as of Nov. 17, 1,700 COVID patients were hospitalized in the state, the highest that number has been since Aug. 6. That number peaked with 3,517 hospitalized COVID patients on July 13; it hit a subsequent low of 468 on Sept. 27.
A total of 1,288 people visited emergency rooms on Nov. 17 with COVID symptoms, the highest that number has been since July 29. That number peaked at 2,008 on July 7; it hit a subsequent low of 653 on Sept. 28.
A total of 396 COVID-19 patients were in intensive care unit beds on Nov. 17, the highest that number has been since Aug. 18. The number of COVID patients in ICUs peaked at 970 on July 13 and hit a subsequent low of 114 on Sept. 22.
On a week-by-week basis in Pima County, the number of positive COVID tests peaked the week ending July 4 with 2,452 cases, according to an Nov. 12 report from the Pima County Health Department. (Numbers in this report are subject to revision.)
Pima County is seeing a steady rise in cases in recent weeks. For the week ending Oct. 17, 547 cases were reported; for the week ending Oct. 24, 914 cases were reported; for the week ending Oct. 31, 1,304 cases were reported; and for the week ending Nov. 7, 1,948 cases were reported.
Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry noted that the county had seen 4,620 cases in the first 17 days in November.
“For the first 17 days in July, the worst month of COVID-19 case increases to date, there were 5,057 cases,” Huckelberry said in a Nov. 17 memo. “Therefore, we are on pace to exceed the total number of monthly COVID-19 infections in our previous worst month, July.”
PHOENIX – Native American leaders are keeping close watch on the Supreme Court battle over whether to repeal all or parts of the Affordable Care Act, a move many say could devastate health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
“In our vulnerable populations, particularly in the time of COVID-19 and its disproportionate impact on Native people, this is not where we need to be spending our energy,” said Stacy Bohlen, chief executive officer of the National Indian Health Board.
The Affordable Care Act, signed by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010, expanded the number of Americans covered by private or public health insurance.
But the law, often referred to as Obamacare, also includes a number of provisions specific to Indian Country, including permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which provides ongoing funding for Native health programs, primarily through the Indian Health Service.
It also expanded tribes’ authority to run their own health care programs, provided for expansion of the IHS and community health care workforce, and included behavioral health and youth suicide prevention programs.
“People talk about the Affordable Care Act like it’s all one thing,” said Sarah Somers, an attorney with the National Health Law Program who specializes in litigation to help underserved communities access good health care. “But really, there’s almost like five or six different parts of it, and if you repeal it, then all of the codified statutes go away.
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
As coronavirus cases and hospitalizations increase across the state, public health officials are warning of a wintertime surge that could limit hospitals’ resources as it did this summer.
Within the first 17 days of November, Arizona is averaging 1,997 new COVID-19 cases a day. Nov. 14 saw a case count of 3,476— the highest reported in the state since July.
Pima County has contributed 33,444 cases to the total state count of 279,896 as of Nov. 17. Today, the county reported 357 new cases.
The county’s percent positivity for COVID-19 remains at 7.5%. A rate of 5% is a good indicator the spread of the virus is under control.
Over 2,000 cases were reported the first week of November countywide, according to a press release from the Pima County Health Department.
Hospitalizations for coronavirus in this time period reached the highest one week total since the summer spike in cases, according to the release.
“We are very concerned, especially with holidays like Thanksgiving upon us,” Pima County Health Department Director Theresa Cullen said in the release. “This is starting to look like the beginning of the huge spike that we saw over the summer.”
The county health department expected COVID-19 cases to go up after Halloween celebrations and election events. But the remainder of the holiday season is yet to come, and case numbers are already rising.
“Two thousand cases, that's very similar to the number of cases per week the first couple of weeks of June when we really saw that huge spike, so that's very concerning to us,” said Aaron Pacheco, the health department’s communications manager.
With nearly 3,000 new cases reported today, the number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases climbed to nearly 280,000 as of Tuesday, Nov. 17, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Pima County, which reported 357 new cases today, has seen 33,444 of the state’s 279,896 confirmed cases.
A total of 6,312 Arizonans had died after contracting COVID-19, including 670 deaths in Pima County, according to the Nov. 17 report.
The number of hospitalized COVID cases statewide continues to climb upward as the virus has begun to spread more rapidly. ADHS reported that as of Nov. 16, 1,624 COVID patients were hospitalized in the state, the highest that number has been since Aug. 8. That number peaked with 3,517 hospitalized COVID patients on July 13; it hit a subsequent low of 468 on Sept. 27.
A total of 1,143 people visited emergency rooms on Nov. 16 with COVID symptoms. That number peaked at 2,008 on July 7; it hit a subsequent low of 653 on Sept. 28.
A total of 385 COVID-19 patients were in intensive care unit beds on Nov. 16, the highest that number has been since Aug. 19. The number of COVID patients in ICUs peaked at 970 on July 13 and hit a subsequent low of 114 on Sept. 22.
On a week-by-week basis in Pima County, the number of positive COVID tests peaked the week ending July 4 with 2,452 cases, according to an Nov. 9 report from the Pima County Health Department. (Numbers in this report are subject to revision.)
Pima County is seeing a steady rise in cases in recent weeks. For the week ending Oct. 17, 545 cases were reported; for the week ending Oct. 24, 911 cases were reported; for the week ending Oct. 31, 1,247 cases were reported; and for the week ending Nov. 7, 1,227 cases were reported.
Deaths in Pima County are down from a peak of 54 in the week ending July 4 to three in the week ending Oct 10, one in week ending Oct. 17, four in the week ending Oct. 24 and four in the week ending Oct. 31.
Hospitalization admission peaked the week ending July 18 with 221 COVID patients admitted to Pima County hospitals, but it has been on the rise in recent weeks. In the week ending Oct. 17, 37 people were admitted; in the week ending Oct. 24,40 people were admitted; in the week ending Oct. 31, 52 people were admitted; and in the week ending Nov. 7, 34 people were admitted.
State officials warn: Don’t let your guard down
As coronavirus cases, deaths and hospitalizations continue to rise across the state, Arizona’s public health officials are warning of an active increase in the virus that will worsen without widespread mitigation tactics.
The statewide percent positivity for COVID-19 increased to 9% last week. A rate of 5% is a good indicator the spread of the virus is under control.
Arizona reported over 13,000 cases the week of Nov. 1, an 187% increase from the beginning of last month, according to data from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS).
“Arizonans need to remain vigilant, now is not the time to let our guard down,” ADHS Director Dr. Cara Christ said in a COVID-19 video update for Nov. 10. “We have seen a concerning increase in the COVID-19 rates in many counties over the past few weeks.”
According to Christ. COVID-19-like illness is also on the rise with increased inpatient and emergency room visits. She said although the state’s hospitals are reporting sufficient capacity, they’re also reporting a higher number of beds in use.
The Arizona Surge Line, a system established by ADHS in April that prevents one hospital from becoming overwhelmed by facilitating COVID-19 patient admission and transfer, is seeing increased instances of these transfers. Christ called this “an early indicator of hospital capacity concerns.”
The health director said while statewide benchmarks for businesses and schools to reopen are being met, metrics tracking case rates, percent positivity and COVID-like illness are all increasing.
Christ said the age group ranging from 20 to 44 makes up nearly 50% of the coronavirus cases in Arizona, but that these are mostly “college-age individuals.”
ADHS asks everyone to practice mitigation tactics such as frequent hand-washing, physical distancing and mask-wearing.
“We urge all Arizonans to appropriately wear a mask, whether or not they live in an area with a mandate,” Christ said in the video.
Get tested: Pima County opening new sites alongside existing spots for free COVID testing
Within the next three weeks, new drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites will be available at three Pima Community College locations, the county health department announced in a press release Friday.
The Pima County Health Department, Pima Community College and Arizona State University have partnered to create three new testing sites in an extension of the current ASU testing site at the Ellie Towne Flowing Wells Community Center.
At the drive-thru sites, COVID-19 testing will be offered through spit samples instead of nasal canal swabs.
Each site will conduct testing from 9 a.m. to noon, and registration is required in advance. Only patients 5 years or older can be tested.
“As cases rise, we are eager to increase available testing for the people of Pima County,” Pima County Public Health Director Theresa Cullen said in the press release. “If you know or suspect you have been exposed to COVID-19, we encourage you to get tested.”
The first testing site opened Monday, Nov. 16 at the Pima Community College West Campus.
Here are the three drive-thru locations that will be offering COVID-19 testing:
Pima Community College West Campus
2202 W. Anklam Road
Mondays, except national holidays and Dec. 28
Testing starts: Monday, Nov. 16
Pima Community College Desert Vista Campus
5901 S. Calle Santa Cruz
Wednesdays, except national holidays and Dec. 30
Testing starts: Wednesday, Dec. 2
Pima Community College East Campus
8181 E. Irvington Road
Fridays, except national holidays.
Testing starts: Friday, Dec. 4
The new sites will join the county’s other four free testing centers around town with easy-to-schedule appointments—often with same-day availability—with results in 24 to 72 hours.
You’ll have a nasal swab test at the Kino Event Center (2805 E. Ajo Way) the Udall Center (7200 E. Tanque Verde Road) and downtown (88 E. Broadway). The center at the northside Ellie Towne Flowing Wells Community Center, 1660 W. Ruthrauff Road, involves a saliva test designed by ASU.
Schedule an appointment at pima.gov/covid19testing.
The University of Arizona’s antibody testing has been opened to all Arizonans as the state attempts to get a handle on how many people have been exposed to COVID-19 but were asymptomatic or otherwise did not get a test while they were ill.
To sign up for testing, visit https://covid19antibodytesting.arizona.edu/home.
—with additional reporting from Austin Counts, Jeff Gardner, Nicole Ludden and Mike Truelsen.
Monday, November 16, 2020
As the University of Arizona conducts a pre-fall break testing blitz, its coronavirus numbers are remaining relatively steady, UA President Robert C. Robbins shared in a news conference Monday, Nov. 16.
From Nov. 6 through Nov. 15, UA found 76 positive coronavirus cases after administering 8,651 tests for a positivity rate of 0.9%, the same rate the university reported the previous 10-day period.
On Nov. 9, the university began its “testing blitz” to reduce the spread of COVID-19 as travel is likely to increase over the holiday season. Testing will run through Nov. 25, and students are asked to register for an appointment-only test after completing a survey with their traveling plans.
Robbins said this week, the university has administered 7,541 tests as part of this program, a 34% increase in COVID-19 tests since last week.
If students travel outside the Tucson area over fall break, the university is asking them to complete the semester outside the area or remotely online. Those who don’t travel can complete the semester from their student residences.
All students will complete the semester remotely when classes resume Nov. 30. In January, the university will return to stage two of its reentry plan with up to 50 students attending classes in person, according to Robbins.
All students who attend in-person classes in the spring semester will be required to get tested for COVID-19. Robbins said UA will only require tests for on-campus students because they “cannot legally mandate testing for other students as a prerequisite for enrollment.”
Reentry Task Force Director Richard Carmona went over statewide COVID-19 data that shows a 14-day increase in cases of 75%, a 29% increase in deaths and a 57% increase in hospitalizations throughout Arizona.
Pima County’s current R0, pronounced “R naught”—which indicates how contagious a virus is by showing the average number of people who will contract the virus from an infected person—is at 1.68. The transmissibility rate for the zip code surrounding the university has decreased from 2.22 last week to 1.33 this week, according to Carmona.
“We feel confident that some of our public health practices have been manifest in better numbers, but we are also very concerned of what’s happening in the bigger environment, and this is continuing to spread in spite of these good practices,” Carmona said.
UA’s CART team, a collaboration with the UA and Tucson police departments that looks for noncompliance to COVID-19 precautions, responded to 14 incidents of large gatherings last week. The week prior, they reported 7 incidents.
“That tells us that there are still people in our university community who are not taking this seriously,” Carmona said. “They’re going to social events, which are the cause of the spread... We must do all we can to prevent the spread.”
With more than 7,300 new cases reported since Friday morning, the number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases climbed to nearly 277,000 as of Monday, Nov. 16, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Pima County, which reported 285 new cases today, has seen 33,087 of the state’s 276,912 confirmed cases.
A total of 6,302 Arizonans had died after contracting COVID-19, including 670 deaths in Pima County, according to the Nov. 16 report.
The number of hospitalized COVID cases statewide continues to climb upward as the virus has begun to spread more rapidly. ADHS reported that as of Nov. 15, 1,557 COVID patients were hospitalized in the state, the highest that number has been since Aug. 10. That number peaked with 3,517 hospitalized COVID patients on July 13; it hit a subsequent low of 468 on Sept. 27.
A total of 1,038 people visited emergency rooms on Nov. 15 with COVID symptoms. That number peaked at 2,008 on July 7; it hit a subsequent low of 653 on Sept. 28.
A total of 374 COVID-19 patients were in intensive care unit beds on Nov. 15, the highest that number has been since Aug. 19. The number of COVID patients in ICUs peaked at 970 on July 13 and hit a subsequent low of 114 on Sept. 22.
On a week-by-week basis in Pima County, the number of positive COVID tests peaked the week ending July 4 with 2,452 cases, according to an Nov. 9 report from the Pima County Health Department. (Numbers in this report are subject to revision.)
Pima County is seeing a steady rise in cases in recent weeks. For the week ending Oct. 17, 545 cases were reported; for the week ending Oct. 24, 911 cases were reported; for the week ending Oct. 31, 1,247 cases were reported; and for the week ending Nov. 7, 1,227 cases were reported.
Saturday, November 14, 2020
With all the votes counted in Pima County, Democrat Rex Scott has won the District 1 seat on the Pima County Board of Supervisors by a mere 730 votes.
The district, representing Marana, Casa Adobes, Oro Valley, and the Catalina Foothills, has reliably voted for Republicans in recent decades but with an open seat up for grabs, the voters supported the Democratic candidate over GOP nominee Steve Spain, who had the endorsement of retiring incumbent Republican Supervisor Ally Miller.
The Board of Supervisors is responsible for a wide range of public policy in the county. The five-member board represents each district, approves the county budget, sets health regulations such as the current mask mandate to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The board also oversees development issues such as rezoning and permitting and manages the county sewer system along with roads in unincorporated areas, among other responsibilities.
Scott began running for District 1 supervisor in September 2019, three months before current supervisor Ally Miller announced she wouldn’t seek another term.
The new District 1 supervisor has worked in public schools as both a teacher and administrator for 30 years and said he felt “a combination of honored and humbled” when he learned he won the race.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be able to represent people in a place that I know very well, and that has deep meaning for me, but I’m also very humbled because of the challenges that we're going to be taking on, especially dealing with the remainder of the pandemic and the recovery from it.”
Coronavirus recovery is Scott’s top priority when entering the office. As a supervisor, he says he’ll start by addressing “people who have suffered the most,” such as those struggling to make rent as coronavirus’ economic toll continues.
Within the next three weeks, new drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites will be available at three Pima Community College locations, the county health department announced in a press release Friday.
The Pima County Health Department, Pima Community College and Arizona State University have partnered to create three new testing sites in an extension of the current ASU testing site at the Ellie Towne Flowing Wells Community Center.
At the drive-thru sites, COVID-19 testing will be offered through spit samples instead of nasal canal swabs.
Each site will conduct testing from 9 a.m. to noon, and registration is required in advance. Only patients 5 years or older can be tested.
“As cases rise, we are eager to increase available testing for the people of Pima County,” Pima County Public Health Director Theresa Cullen said in the press release. “If you know or suspect you have been exposed to COVID-19, we encourage you to get tested.”
The first testing site will open Monday, Nov. 16, at the Pima Community College West Campus.
Here are the three drive-thru locations that will be offering COVID-19 testing:
Friday, November 13, 2020
McSally congratulated her Democratic opponent Mark Kelly on winning an election that turned out to be one of the most expensive in the nation. According to the Associated Press, Kelly won 51.2% of the vote (1,714,466), beating McSally by more than 75,000 votes.
"With nearly all the votes counted, I called Mark Kelly this morning to congratulate him on winning this race. I also offered support in his transition to ensure Arizonans are best served during this time. I wish him all the best," McSally said.
With her defeat, this is McSally's second senate loss to a Democrat in only two years, after losing in the 2018 election to Kyrsten Sinema. McSally was subsequently appointed to fill out the late Sen. John McCain's senate seat.
This will be the first time Arizona has had two Democrat senators since the 1950s.
