Arizona COVID-19 cumulative counts, Dec. 14
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Select regional and national coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic as of Friday, April 10, impacting Arizona. For more coverage, visit our resource page. This story may be updated.
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Arizona to release more location info for coronavirus cases
Capitol Media Services, April 10
PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Health Services says it will begin to release more detailed information about reported COVID-19 cases and deaths in the state.
The agency said beginning Sunday it will include data about the location of cases, by ZIP code, and will also include demographic information about the patients, according to Capitol Media Services. The state has said the data may initially not be fully accurate.
Read more at Tucson.com.
Research suggests dominant Arizona coronavirus linked to European strain
Arizona Republic, April 10
PHOENIX — Researchers believe they have identified a dominant strain of the new coronavirus circulating in Arizona based on an analysis of more than 100 samples of the virus.
The dominant strain makes up less than half of the currently analyzed samples, according to reporting by the Arizona Republic. University of Arizona evolutionary biologist Michael Worobey says the strain appears to be linked to strains from Europe, and may have established itself in the state in early March, though it's not clear if it took a direct path from Europe or came via another U.S. state.
World virus deaths pass 100,000
AP, April 10
NEW YORK (AP) — The global death toll from the coronavirus has surpassed 100,000, with more than half the U.S. deaths clustered in the three-state metro area around New York City.
Bedroom communities in New Jersey, Connecticut and on Long Island are seeing some of the worst outbreaks in the country. That comes even as public health authorities are expressing optimism that the pace of infections appeared to be slowing. Christians worldwide are marking a Good Friday unlike any other — in front of computer screens instead of in church pews.
Officials are warning people against violating social distancing rules over Easter and allowing the virus to flare up again.
Budget committee projects possible $1B Arizona shortfall
AZPM, April 10
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee meeting Thursday was a dire warning of things to come for Arizona.
JLBC director Richard Stavneak told the committee members who all joined remotely, that COVID-19 could cause a large revenue loss.
“We currently project that by the end of fiscal 2021 there is going to be a $1 billion shortfall,” Stavneak said.
He emphasized that the prediction is just that, speculation, because no one knows how long the economic stagnation will last. He also said the estimation could be off by $500 million either way.
Supervisors offer relief to workers and tenants
AZPM, April 9
Some Pima County employees and tenants who lease county property will get some economic help under measures approved by the Board of Supervisors Thursday.
Employees who interact with the public will be getting a $2-an-hour premium in their paychecks as compensation for the risk they're taking during the pandemic. Republican Ally Miller opposed the move because she says it sends the wrong message to taxpayers who've lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
Sheriff Mark Napier defended the increase. He said his employees and their loved ones face a higher risk of COVID-19 exposure
Arizona peak could come sooner than predicted
AZPM, April 9
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona has topped 3,000. But new data suggest the virus's peak in the state could come sooner than previously expected.
Daily coronavirus deaths will continue to climb for two weeks, before reaching a maximum around April 23. That's according to a widely cited model from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. State health officials had estimated peak hospitalizations around mid-May.
According to the model, the state's hospitals will see around 24 COVID-19 deaths every day before the curve begins to flatten. That's assuming Arizonans continue to socially distance. If they don't, that number could change quickly.
Navajo prez, VP quarantine after COVID-19 contact
Fronteras Desk, April 9
The Navajo president and vice president have quarantined themselves after learning they came in contact with a first responder who tested positive for COVID-19. As of Thursday, there were 558 Navajos with the coronavirus and 22 had died from the disease.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez told a town hall on Facebook Live that he and the vice president met with the Arizona National Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and first responders, and somebody later tested positive for COVID-19.
“It was a first responder protecting you,” Nez said. “It’s real. It is frustrating to see people driving around. Let’s stop the spread!”
Drums, dancers livestream as virus moves powwows online
AP, April 10
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The largest powwows in the country have been canceled and postponed amid the spread of the coronavirus.
Tribal members have found a new outlet online with the Social Distance Powwow. They're sharing videos of colorful displays of culture and tradition that are at their essence meant to uplift people during difficult times. The posts have become a nearly daily dose of medicine, songs, dances, well wishes, humor and happy birthdays.
The site also hosts a live powwow on the weekend where an emcee patches in drum groups, singers and dancers from across the country.
3rd virus case reported among Arizona's 42,000 prisoners
AP, April 10
PHOENIX (AP) — A third case of the coronavirus has been reported among Arizona’s 42,000 prison inmates.
Officials say an inmate at the state prison in Florence has tested positive. Earlier this week, officials said an inmate in Tucson and another in Marana also tested positive. Officials have declined to say whether any prison employees have tested positive.
Jails, detention centers and prisons are believed to be vulnerable to a coronavirus outbreak because inmates with compromised health live in close quarters and jail employees cycle in and out of those facilities each day. Across Arizona, 3,100 coronavirus cases resulting in 97 deaths were reported as of Friday.
Virus puts brakes on US economic engine: consumer spending
AP, April 10
New data is revealing the wallop that the coronavirus outbreak is delivering to households and economies. The U.S. reported Friday that consumer spending had its largest decline in five years in March.
Consumer activity makes up about 70% of all U.S. economic activity and that could have serious ramifications like deflation. For example, the credit agency Moody’s downgraded cosmetics companies Coty and pH Beauty because people shut inside their homes are not spending money on such products. Advanced Auto Parts withdrew financial forecasts for the year with sales falling.
Next potential shortage: Drugs needed to run ventilators
AP, April 10
NEW YORK (AP) — As hospitals scour the country for scarce ventilators, pharmacists are beginning to sound an alarm that could become just as urgent.
Drugs needed to use ventilators are running low even as demand is surging. When doctors put critically ill patients on ventilators, they rely on sedatives, pain killers and, at times, paralytics. Demand for the drugs rose 73% in March. But pharmacists say supplies are dangerously low and that ventilators are inoperable without them.
As Trump rails against mail voting, some allies embrace it
AP, April 10
As President Donald Trump rails against voting by mail, many members of his own political party are embracing it to keep their voters safe during the coronavirus outbreak.
While Trump has complained that voting by mail was “ripe for fraud,” Republican state officials in Iowa, Ohio and West Virginia have all taken steps to ease access to mail-in ballots. It comes as health officials have warned that voting in person can risk transmission of the deadly virus.
The disconnect between Trump and Republican state officials illustrates the abrupt, hard turn the president and his national political allies have taken on the issue.
Mexico Asks Citizens Overseas To Stay Away For Easter
Fronteras Desk, April 8
Mexico has been slow to adopt guidelines put in place around the world to diminish the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. But it has called on its citizens to not travel into the country or out of it. Now it’s urging expatriates to not travel back to Mexico for Easter Sunday.
Enrique Gómez Montiel is the interim consul in Tucson.
"As you know many people don’t even know they have or may have the virus and that’s why we are actually asking people not to travel to Mexico," he said.
Mexico and the U.S. closed the shared border in late March to nonessential travel but that doesn’t apply for example to lawful permanent residents.
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