Tuesday, August 11, 2020
The number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 188,000 as of Tuesday, Aug. 11, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Pima County had seen 18,381 of the state’s 188,737 confirmed cases.
A total of 4,199 Arizonans had died after contracting COVID-19, according to the Aug. 11 report.
The number of hospitalized COVID cases continues to decline. ADHS reported that as of Aug. 10, 1,574 COVID patients were hospitalized in the state, down from a peak of 3,517 on July 13.
A total of 949 people visited ERs on Aug. 10 with COVID symptoms. That number peaked at 2,008 on July 7.
A total of 510 COVID-19 patients were in ICU beds on Aug. 10. The number in ICUs peaked at 970 on July 13.
Vice President Mike Pence visits Tucson today
Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to make an appearance at La Paloma today.
Pence will receive an endorsement from the Arizona Association of Police in an event that C-SPAN will carry live at 11:30 a.m.
Pence will then travel to Mesa for another event.
Pima County had seen 18,381 of the state’s 188,737 confirmed cases.
A total of 4,199 Arizonans had died after contracting COVID-19, according to the Aug. 11 report.
The number of hospitalized COVID cases continues to decline. ADHS reported that as of Aug. 10, 1,574 COVID patients were hospitalized in the state, down from a peak of 3,517 on July 13.
A total of 949 people visited ERs on Aug. 10 with COVID symptoms. That number peaked at 2,008 on July 7.
A total of 510 COVID-19 patients were in ICU beds on Aug. 10. The number in ICUs peaked at 970 on July 13.
Vice President Mike Pence visits Tucson today
Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to make an appearance at La Paloma today.
Pence will receive an endorsement from the Arizona Association of Police in an event that C-SPAN will carry live at 11:30 a.m.
Pence will then travel to Mesa for another event.
Monday, August 10, 2020
Pima County has announced new grant funding that will be distributed to child care providers to reimburse them for costs associated with reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a county press release, certain providers can each receive up to $10,000 to cover eligible expenses such as rent and mortgage payments, utilities, payroll, licensing fees, liability insurance, cleaning supplies, classroom supplies, personal protective equipment and renovations to meet operational requirements during the public health crisis.
A child care provider is eligible for this money if they are a certified provider through the Arizona Department of Economic Security or the Department of Health Services, they are located outside of the City of Tucson, they have 30 or fewer employees, their business finances have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and they have been a legally established business as of February 2020.
All businesses receiving grant money must provide invoices and proof of payment for their reimbursable expenses dating back to May 2020, and grants are limited to one per business owner, not business location.
The $2 million for this program has been provided through the county’s share of federal CARES Act dollars, since they see the child care sector as a critical component for restarting the economy.
“The county, as part of its Back to Business campaign, recognizes child care as critical to the economy because it allows parents to return to work,” the press release states. “Many child care providers have not reopened, and others are operating at significantly reduced enrollment rates.”
The county is taking applications between Aug. 14 and Aug. 28. Providers can find a link to applications and more information at www.pima.gov/backtobusiness beginning next week.
Tags: COVID19 , Coronavirus , Child Care , Grant , Pima County , Image
The latest police data show reported crimes fell in Phoenix and Tucson during the second quarter of the year, a period in which Arizonans were largely confined to their homes by the governor’s COVID-19 stay-at-home order.
But while property crimes in both cities fell, violent crime in Phoenix rose sharply in the quarter, driven largely by a 14.6% increase in aggravated assaults compared to the first three months of the year.
Tucson also saw a rise in aggravated assaults, but not large enough to offset the overall drop in other violent crimes – murders, rapes and robberies.
Michael Scott, a criminology professor at Arizona State University, said the increase likely reflects a “rising tide” of stress, frustration and anger among Arizonans during the pandemic.
“Because a high percentage of these crimes are between acquaintances, intimate partners or family members, the increase is most likely due to the added emotional stress and anger attributable to people being confined to their homes with one another, and from lost household income,” Scott said.
But while property crimes in both cities fell, violent crime in Phoenix rose sharply in the quarter, driven largely by a 14.6% increase in aggravated assaults compared to the first three months of the year.
Tucson also saw a rise in aggravated assaults, but not large enough to offset the overall drop in other violent crimes – murders, rapes and robberies.
Michael Scott, a criminology professor at Arizona State University, said the increase likely reflects a “rising tide” of stress, frustration and anger among Arizonans during the pandemic.
“Because a high percentage of these crimes are between acquaintances, intimate partners or family members, the increase is most likely due to the added emotional stress and anger attributable to people being confined to their homes with one another, and from lost household income,” Scott said.
The number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 187,000 as of Monday, Aug. 10, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Pima County had seen 17,996 of the state’s 187,523 confirmed cases.
A total of 4,154 Arizonans had died after contracting COVID-19, according to the Aug. 10 report.
The number of hospitalized COVID cases continues to decline. ADHS reported that as of Aug. 9, 1,575 COVID patients were hospitalized in the state, down from a peak of 3,517 on July 13.
A total of 987 people visited ERs on Aug. 9 with COVID symptoms. That number peaked at 2,008 on July 7.
A total of 506 COVID-19 patients were in ICU beds on Aug. 9. The number in ICUs peaked at 970 on July 13.
Pima County launching pop-up COVID testing centers this week
The Pima County Health Department is rolling out new drive-thru COVID-19 testing events beginning next week that will be available in areas of the county that have had limited testing availability.
Through their partnership with the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, Pima County will offer a minimal contact testing operation for free at the following times and locations. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged and can be completed at www.pima.gov/covid19testing.
Here’s a list of where the test sites will be available:
Pima County had seen 17,996 of the state’s 187,523 confirmed cases.
A total of 4,154 Arizonans had died after contracting COVID-19, according to the Aug. 10 report.
The number of hospitalized COVID cases continues to decline. ADHS reported that as of Aug. 9, 1,575 COVID patients were hospitalized in the state, down from a peak of 3,517 on July 13.
A total of 987 people visited ERs on Aug. 9 with COVID symptoms. That number peaked at 2,008 on July 7.
A total of 506 COVID-19 patients were in ICU beds on Aug. 9. The number in ICUs peaked at 970 on July 13.
Pima County launching pop-up COVID testing centers this week
The Pima County Health Department is rolling out new drive-thru COVID-19 testing events beginning next week that will be available in areas of the county that have had limited testing availability.
Through their partnership with the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, Pima County will offer a minimal contact testing operation for free at the following times and locations. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged and can be completed at www.pima.gov/covid19testing.
Here’s a list of where the test sites will be available:
Friday, August 7, 2020
- The number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 185,000 as of Friday, Aug. 7, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
- The Pima County Health Department today announced new drive-thru COVID-19 testing events beginning next week that will be available in areas of the county that have had limited testing availability.
- County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez had completed signature checks on the ballots that arrived by mail and had shipped them over to the Elections Department to tabulate them.
- The devil can’t stand mockery, as the adage goes, but fans of Fish Karma know humor can be used to overcome all manner of hardship.
- Arizona renters may have breathed a sigh of relief last month when Gov. Doug Ducey extended the state moratorium on residential evictions to Oct. 31.
WASHINGTON – Arizona renters may have breathed a sigh of relief last month when Gov. Doug Ducey extended the state moratorium on residential evictions to Oct. 31.
But for some of them, Oct. 31 could come as soon as later this month if they don’t act.
In his July 16 executive order, Ducey said that renters who wanted to defer a pending eviction have until Aug. 21 to notify their landlord in writing of a COVID-19 hardship and request a payment plan.
“After August 21, renters will need to provide their landlord or property owner a copy of their completed pending application for rental assistance through a state, city, county or nonprofit program” in order to defer eviction, the order says.
When Ducey announced the extension of the first residential eviction moratorium, state efforts to provide assistance to renters were lagging. Just 1,266 out of 18,784 applications for rental assistance had been approved at the time, an approval rate of 6.7%.
Those numbers have improved, but only marginally. By this week, three weeks after Ducey announced the extension, the number of approved applications had risen to 1,380, but the total number of applications had also risen, to 20,313, an approval rate that was just under 6.8%.
Applications for the Rental Eviction Prevention Assistance program are being processed by 11 community action agencies around the state, according to Janelle Johnsen, communications director for the Arizona Department of Housing.
But for some of them, Oct. 31 could come as soon as later this month if they don’t act.
In his July 16 executive order, Ducey said that renters who wanted to defer a pending eviction have until Aug. 21 to notify their landlord in writing of a COVID-19 hardship and request a payment plan.
“After August 21, renters will need to provide their landlord or property owner a copy of their completed pending application for rental assistance through a state, city, county or nonprofit program” in order to defer eviction, the order says.
When Ducey announced the extension of the first residential eviction moratorium, state efforts to provide assistance to renters were lagging. Just 1,266 out of 18,784 applications for rental assistance had been approved at the time, an approval rate of 6.7%.
Those numbers have improved, but only marginally. By this week, three weeks after Ducey announced the extension, the number of approved applications had risen to 1,380, but the total number of applications had also risen, to 20,313, an approval rate that was just under 6.8%.
Applications for the Rental Eviction Prevention Assistance program are being processed by 11 community action agencies around the state, according to Janelle Johnsen, communications director for the Arizona Department of Housing.
As of this morning, Pima County has just a few thousand ballots left to count.
County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez had completed signature checks on the ballots that arrived by mail and had shipped them over to the Elections Department to tabulate them.
Rodriguez still had about 3,000 provisional ballots to review.
Given the small number of ballots left to count, it appears that every race in Pima County has been resolved except for the Ovo Valley Town Council, where third-place finisher Tim Bohen is leading fourth-place finisher Bill Rodman by just 74 votes.
In what remains the biggest shocker of the primary election, former state lawmaker Matt Heinz has knocked out Pima County Supervisor Ramon Valadez, who has served on the board since he was first appointed in 2003. Heinz, who also works as an emergency room doctor, captured 53 percent of the vote to Valadez’s 34 percent in District 2, which stretches from downtown Tucson to Sahuarita.
In the general election, Heinz will face Republican Anthony Sizer, who has previously run unsuccessfully for the Arizona Legislature.
In the four-way District 1 GOP primary to replace Republican Ally Miller, Steve Spain came out on top, winning 33 percent of the vote. A political newcomer who had the endorsement of Miller, Spain defeated Oro Valley Town Council member Rhonda Piña, former state lawmaker Vic Williams and former Pima County Republican Party chair Bill Beard.
Spain will now face Democratic candidate and former school administrator Rex Scott in the general election for this northside district that includes Marana, Oro Valley, Casas Adobes and the Catalina Foothills.
In District 3, Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson held off a primary challenge from Juan Padres, capturing 58 percent of the vote. She’ll face Republican Gabby Mercer in the general election.
In District 5, TUSD Board member Adelita Grijalva, daughter of Congressman Raul Grijalva, defeated Sunnyside School Board member Consuelo Hernandez. Grijalva, who captured 67 percent of the vote, will face Republican Fernando Gonzales in the race for the board seat formerly occupied by the late Richard Elias.
In District 4, Supervisor Steve Christy defeated challenger John Backer in the GOP primary with 65 percent of the vote. Christy will face Democrat Steve Diamond in this GOP-leaning district that includes Tucson’s east side, Vail and Green Valley.
In countywide races, Laura Conover won the Democratic primary for Pima County Attorney. The defense attorney captured 58 percent of the vote against two prosecutors who were seeking the office, Jonathan Mosher, who won 36 percent, and Mark Diebolt, who captured 6 percent.
In the Democratic primary for Pima County Sheriff, Chris Nanos, who was appointed the seat in 2015 but lost it after a procurement scandal erupted on his watch, captured 67 percent of the vote against Deputy Kevin Kubitskey, a union leader whose campaign erupted in scandal in July after his daughter accused him of abusing her.
Nanos’ win sets up a rematch against Republican Mark Napier, who defeated Nanos four years ago.
In the race between two Democrats who are seeking to replace the retiring F. Ann Rodriguez as Pima County's chief keeper of records, Gabriella Cázares-Kelly, an organizer with Indivisible Tohono, won 64 percent of the vote against Kim Challender, who has worked as Rodriguez’s chief deputy.
Cázares-Kelly will face Republican Benny White, a longtime GOP activist who has served on the county's Election Integrity Commission.
In the primary to replace the retiring Assessor Bill Staples, Suzanne Drobie won 58 percent of the vote against Brian Johnson and Dustin Walters. She faces no Republican opposition for the seat.
County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez had completed signature checks on the ballots that arrived by mail and had shipped them over to the Elections Department to tabulate them.
Rodriguez still had about 3,000 provisional ballots to review.
Given the small number of ballots left to count, it appears that every race in Pima County has been resolved except for the Ovo Valley Town Council, where third-place finisher Tim Bohen is leading fourth-place finisher Bill Rodman by just 74 votes.
Kathleen Dreier/Courtesy Team Heinz
In primary night's biggest upset, former state lawmaker Matt Heinz defeated Pima County Supervisor Ramon Valadez, who had served on the Board of Supervisors since 2003.
In the general election, Heinz will face Republican Anthony Sizer, who has previously run unsuccessfully for the Arizona Legislature.
In the four-way District 1 GOP primary to replace Republican Ally Miller, Steve Spain came out on top, winning 33 percent of the vote. A political newcomer who had the endorsement of Miller, Spain defeated Oro Valley Town Council member Rhonda Piña, former state lawmaker Vic Williams and former Pima County Republican Party chair Bill Beard.
Spain will now face Democratic candidate and former school administrator Rex Scott in the general election for this northside district that includes Marana, Oro Valley, Casas Adobes and the Catalina Foothills.
In District 3, Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson held off a primary challenge from Juan Padres, capturing 58 percent of the vote. She’ll face Republican Gabby Mercer in the general election.
In District 5, TUSD Board member Adelita Grijalva, daughter of Congressman Raul Grijalva, defeated Sunnyside School Board member Consuelo Hernandez. Grijalva, who captured 67 percent of the vote, will face Republican Fernando Gonzales in the race for the board seat formerly occupied by the late Richard Elias.
In District 4, Supervisor Steve Christy defeated challenger John Backer in the GOP primary with 65 percent of the vote. Christy will face Democrat Steve Diamond in this GOP-leaning district that includes Tucson’s east side, Vail and Green Valley.
Democrat Laura Conover faces no opposition in the general election for Pima County Attorney after winning Tuesday's primary.
In the Democratic primary for Pima County Sheriff, Chris Nanos, who was appointed the seat in 2015 but lost it after a procurement scandal erupted on his watch, captured 67 percent of the vote against Deputy Kevin Kubitskey, a union leader whose campaign erupted in scandal in July after his daughter accused him of abusing her.
Nanos’ win sets up a rematch against Republican Mark Napier, who defeated Nanos four years ago.
In the race between two Democrats who are seeking to replace the retiring F. Ann Rodriguez as Pima County's chief keeper of records, Gabriella Cázares-Kelly, an organizer with Indivisible Tohono, won 64 percent of the vote against Kim Challender, who has worked as Rodriguez’s chief deputy.
Cázares-Kelly will face Republican Benny White, a longtime GOP activist who has served on the county's Election Integrity Commission.
In the primary to replace the retiring Assessor Bill Staples, Suzanne Drobie won 58 percent of the vote against Brian Johnson and Dustin Walters. She faces no Republican opposition for the seat.
The number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 185,000 as of Friday, Aug. 7, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Pima County had seen 17,497 of the state’s 185,053 confirmed cases.
A total of 4,081 Arizonans had died after contracting COVID-19, according to the Aug. 7 report.
The number of hospitalized COVID cases continues to decline. ADHS reported that as of Aug. 6, 1,772 COVID patients were hospitalized in the state, down from a peak of 3,517 on July 13.
A total of 1,144 people visited ERs on Aug. 6 with COVID symptoms. That number peaked at 2,008 on July 7.
A total of 565 COVID-19 patients were in ICU beds on Aug. 6. The number in ICUs peaked at 970 on July 13.
Pima County and City of Tucson Open New COVID Testing Center
Pima County has teamed up with the City of Tucson to open a third testing center. The new center, which opens today, is at the Udall Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road. Tests are available Tuesday through Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The new center, which requires a nasal swab, joins a similar facility at Kino Event Center, E. Ajo Way. A third center at the northside Ellie Towne Center, opened in conjunction with ASU, involves a saliva test. The centers offer easy-to-schedule appointments—often with same-day availability—and you get results in less than 72 hours.
Schedule an appointment at pima.gov/covid19testing.
The centers are also tied into Pima County’s developing contact tracing operation, which aims to be able to identify potential clusters and warn people if they have been in contact with someone who is COVID-positive.
If you’re interested in a test to determine if you’ve already had COVID-19, the UA has expanded a free COVID-19 antibody testing program to include 15 new categories of essential workers considered at high risk for exposure. The antibody test, developed by researchers at UA Health Sciences, determines who has been exposed to and developed an immune response against COVID-19.
In addition to healthcare workers and first responders, the test program is now open to educators, childcare workers, agriculture, grocery and foodservice workers, hospitality employees, solid-waste collection workers, transportation services workers and members of the National Guard. More information and registration for the test is available at covid19antibodytesting.arizona.edu.
Pima County is also one of several regions in the country where a new COVID-19 vaccine is being tested. The National Institutes of Health is conducting phase 3 trials on a vaccine co-developed by Moderna, Inc. and the National Insitute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. If you’re interested in volunteering, visit www.coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org or ClinicalTrials.gov and search identifier NCT04470427 to find a study center.
Pima County had seen 17,497 of the state’s 185,053 confirmed cases.
A total of 4,081 Arizonans had died after contracting COVID-19, according to the Aug. 7 report.
The number of hospitalized COVID cases continues to decline. ADHS reported that as of Aug. 6, 1,772 COVID patients were hospitalized in the state, down from a peak of 3,517 on July 13.
A total of 1,144 people visited ERs on Aug. 6 with COVID symptoms. That number peaked at 2,008 on July 7.
A total of 565 COVID-19 patients were in ICU beds on Aug. 6. The number in ICUs peaked at 970 on July 13.
Pima County and City of Tucson Open New COVID Testing Center
Pima County has teamed up with the City of Tucson to open a third testing center. The new center, which opens today, is at the Udall Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road. Tests are available Tuesday through Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The new center, which requires a nasal swab, joins a similar facility at Kino Event Center, E. Ajo Way. A third center at the northside Ellie Towne Center, opened in conjunction with ASU, involves a saliva test. The centers offer easy-to-schedule appointments—often with same-day availability—and you get results in less than 72 hours.
Schedule an appointment at pima.gov/covid19testing.
The centers are also tied into Pima County’s developing contact tracing operation, which aims to be able to identify potential clusters and warn people if they have been in contact with someone who is COVID-positive.
If you’re interested in a test to determine if you’ve already had COVID-19, the UA has expanded a free COVID-19 antibody testing program to include 15 new categories of essential workers considered at high risk for exposure. The antibody test, developed by researchers at UA Health Sciences, determines who has been exposed to and developed an immune response against COVID-19.
In addition to healthcare workers and first responders, the test program is now open to educators, childcare workers, agriculture, grocery and foodservice workers, hospitality employees, solid-waste collection workers, transportation services workers and members of the National Guard. More information and registration for the test is available at covid19antibodytesting.arizona.edu.
Pima County is also one of several regions in the country where a new COVID-19 vaccine is being tested. The National Institutes of Health is conducting phase 3 trials on a vaccine co-developed by Moderna, Inc. and the National Insitute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. If you’re interested in volunteering, visit www.coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org or ClinicalTrials.gov and search identifier NCT04470427 to find a study center.
Thursday, August 6, 2020
The Pima County Recorder’s Office’s most recent election results show a razor-thin margin between the five candidates seeking three seats on the Oro Valley Town Council.
As of 2 p.m. today, incumbent Councilmember Steve Solomon leads the race with 7,360 votes (20.49 percent). Newcomer Harry “Mo” Greene is second with 7,355 votes (20.48 percent), Tim Bohen is third with 7,159 votes (19.93 percent) and Councilmember Bill Rodman is close behind with 7,085 votes (19.73 percent). Candidate Bill Garner trails behind with 6,955 votes (19.37 percent).
While an unknown number of votes remain to be counted, it is shaping up to be Solomon, Greene and Bohen’s victory.
Councilmembers Rodman and Solomon ran for re-election on a campaign that promised experienced leadership during the COVID-19 crisis. Newcomer Harry “Mo” Greene is running alongside them to fill the seat left vacant by exiting councilmember Rhonda Piña (who is running for Pima County Supervisor).
Challenging Greene, Rodman and Solomon are former council member Garner and political newcomer Bohen. Garner was voted out of council in 2016 and made an unsuccessful bid for an appointed spot on the Marana Town Council in 2018.
Bohen believes the town council culture was greatly improved after the 2018 election. He and Garner favor conservative economic development with an interest in extensive resident involvement as opposed to a more streamlined review process.
Earlier today, Solomon told Tucson Local Media that he was pleased with the early results of the election, but disappointed that Rodman is currently behind Bohen by just 53 votes. He hopes to see a shift in Rodman’s favor once all votes are counted.
Rodman said that it is still too early to comment on the election results since some ballots remain uncounted, but said it is interesting how close this race turned out to be.
“I’ve been involved in the town for 15 years and I plan to stay involved in the future,” Rodman told Tucson Local Media. “We’re at a time in the town where we’ve got to make some decisions about what we’re going to be when we grow up and so I think I want to be part of that whether it’s me on the council or as a citizen and a resident.”
Other candidates in the Oro Valley election were not immediately available for comment.
This post has been updated with new vote tallies released this afternoon.
The number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 183,000 as of Thursday, Aug. 5, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Pima County had seen 17,293 of the state’s 183,647 confirmed cases.
A total of 4,002 Arizonans had died after contracting COVID-19, according to the Aug. 6 report.
Arizona hospitals remain under pressure although the number of patients has declined from a peak last month. ADHS reported that as of Aug. 5, 1,879 COVID patients were hospitalized in the state, down from a peak of 3,517 on July 13.
A total of 1,136 people visited ERs on Aug. 5 with COVID symptoms. That number peaked at 2,008 on July 7.
A total of 593 COVID-19 patients were in ICU beds on Aug. 5. The number in ICUs peaked at 970 on July 13.
Trump praises Ducey’s response
Gov. Doug Ducey met with President Donald Trump and the White House COVID-19 Task Force in the Oval Office yesterday.
Trump praised Ducey’s response to COVID-19, saying Ducey had demonstrated how to get soaring COVID-19 cases under control without shutting down the economy.
Ducey lifted Arizona’s stay-at-home order in mid-May and allowed bars, gyms, movie theaters and other spaces where people congregate to reopen. Arizona’s numbers then skyrocketed as the virus became widespread and hospital beds filled. Under pressure, Ducey then allowed local authorities to enact measures requiring the wearing of masks, though he did not issue such an order himself. He also closed down gyms, theaters, water parks and some bars and limited restaurants to 50 percent capacity. Arizona’s numbers began to plateau in mid-July but the virus remains so widespread in Arizona that schools are unable to reopen for in-class sessions this month and instead will be conducted online.
Although Ducey has been out of town this week, the Ducey administration is set to unveil contagion metrics to guide school reopenings by tomorrow.
Pima County had seen 17,293 of the state’s 183,647 confirmed cases.
A total of 4,002 Arizonans had died after contracting COVID-19, according to the Aug. 6 report.
Arizona hospitals remain under pressure although the number of patients has declined from a peak last month. ADHS reported that as of Aug. 5, 1,879 COVID patients were hospitalized in the state, down from a peak of 3,517 on July 13.
A total of 1,136 people visited ERs on Aug. 5 with COVID symptoms. That number peaked at 2,008 on July 7.
A total of 593 COVID-19 patients were in ICU beds on Aug. 5. The number in ICUs peaked at 970 on July 13.
Trump praises Ducey’s response
Gov. Doug Ducey met with President Donald Trump and the White House COVID-19 Task Force in the Oval Office yesterday.
Trump praised Ducey’s response to COVID-19, saying Ducey had demonstrated how to get soaring COVID-19 cases under control without shutting down the economy.
Ducey lifted Arizona’s stay-at-home order in mid-May and allowed bars, gyms, movie theaters and other spaces where people congregate to reopen. Arizona’s numbers then skyrocketed as the virus became widespread and hospital beds filled. Under pressure, Ducey then allowed local authorities to enact measures requiring the wearing of masks, though he did not issue such an order himself. He also closed down gyms, theaters, water parks and some bars and limited restaurants to 50 percent capacity. Arizona’s numbers began to plateau in mid-July but the virus remains so widespread in Arizona that schools are unable to reopen for in-class sessions this month and instead will be conducted online.
Although Ducey has been out of town this week, the Ducey administration is set to unveil contagion metrics to guide school reopenings by tomorrow.
