Cases 378,157 | Deaths 6,973
On Tuesday, Dec. 8, Arizona reported 12,314 new cases of COVID-19 and 23 additional deaths. Tuesday’s count sets the record for most COVID-19 cases reported in a day, breaking the previous record set last week. Dec. 1 saw 10,322 new cases, which officials attributed to a delay in reports over Thanksgiving.
Arizona sets daily record with more than 12K more virus cases
AP
PHOENIX — Arizona on Tuesday set a new daily record with over 12,300 additional known COVID-19 cases. The Department of Health Services reported 12,314 additional known cases, eclipsing the previous record of 10,322 cases set Dec. 1. That figure was inflated by delayed reporting over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Arizona’s case total increased to 378,157. The state also reported 23 additional deaths, increasing that total to 6,973.
Department officials before Thanksgiving warned that gatherings of more than one household would increase the virus’ already strong spread. The state's coronavirus dashboard indicates that the number of hospitalized coronavirus patients is approaching peak levels during last summer's surge.
UA to require mandatory COVID-19 testing
AZPM
Students returning to the University of Arizona campus in January for the spring semester will be required to have a weekly COVID-19 test.
“Required weekly, COVID testing for all students residing in our dorms as well as all students attending in-person classes on the main campus,” said University of Arizona President Robert Robbins.
The students will be required to show a negative test for COVID-19 once a week. The rule will also apply to faculty, staff, and campus visitors.
Casino del Sol closing for the holidays
AZPM
Casino del Sol and several other enterprises of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe are closing Monday at 11 a.m. till early January.
This casino along with Casino of the Sun, the Resort and Estrella at Casino del Sol will be closed till January 2 at 8 a.m. due the high level of local COVID-19 transmission. CEO Kimberly Van Amburg said that Casino del Sol and the Pascua Yaqui Tribal Council were prompted to act as they watched local COVID-19 case counts rise in recent weeks.
"You see the city and county begin to take steps to hopefully curb that, maybe even flatten that. It just seems like the right thing to do to help the community get this thing under control," Van Amburg said.
She said they've been tracking COVID-19 within their enterprises and their positivity rate "remains well below Pima County's."
Pima County to create program to pay bail in low-level cases
AP
Pima County officials voted to create a program to pay the bail of some people who are charged with low-level crimes and can’t afford bonds.
The Arizona Daily Star reports the 3-2 vote last week by the Board of Supervisors gives the go-ahead to fund the county’s own bail-bonding operation through a local nonprofit.
To be eligible, inmates must have bond set at $30,000 or less, and the charges against them cannot be for homicide, sex crimes or child exploitation. Defendants can’t have any kind of hold on them from another jurisdiction and would be supervised while on release.
Federal records to be released in Tucson development case
AP
A judge has ruled that allegations of political interference in the federal handling of a home development proposal in southern Arizona warrant the public release of several confidential records.
The Arizona Daily Star reported that retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service official Steve Spangle claims that politically motivated interference from Washington, D.C. leaders overrode a science-based decision about the 28,000-home development in Benson. U.S. District Judge Raner Collins of Tucson ruled Tuesday that the allegations call into question the entire agency’s decision-making on the development. His ruling gives federal officials 30 days to release the documents.
The Interior Department is denying the allegations.
In neighboring Sonora, Hermosillo and Agua Prieta at maximum COVID-19 risk
Fronteras Desk
Sonoran health authorities say the state capital Hermosillo and border city Agua Prieta are now at maximum risk for coronavirus spread.
That designation also comes with more serious restrictions, including shortened hours and occupancy for a number of businesses and the closure of others, like bars and gyms. Weddings and other social events are also not allowed, according to recently published state regulations. At the federal level, Sonora is considered orange, or high-risk, on the national COVID-19 risk scale, but is one of 10 on the cusp rising to red.
Over the weekend, state authorities inspected a number of bars, restaurants and other establishments to ensure compliance with pandemic restrictions.
Navajo Nation reports 213 new COVID-19 cases, 15 more deaths
AP
WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation health officials on Monday reported 213 new COVID-19 cases and 15 more deaths. In all, the tribe has now reported 18,163 cases and 682 known deaths since the pandemic began. The Navajo Department of Health now has identified 77 communities with uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 from Nov. 20 to Dec. 3.
Tribal officials say nearly all intensive care unit beds on the reservation are being used as coronavirus cases surge. They warn that the tribe is nearing a point where health care workers will have to make difficult decisions about providing care with limited hospital resources.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said Sunday evening that there are few options to transport patients to other regional hospitals that are near full capacity.
Native Americans critique data, surveys following election
AP
PHOENIX — The lack of visibility of Native Americans in exit poll data on network television hit a nerve in Indian Country in the days following the election. Some Natives responded with an outcry while others turned to humor to address what many describe as a longstanding problem.
Native Americans make up less than 2% of the U.S. population and often are listed as “other” or denoted with an asterisk in datasets. Even when surveyed, the results can be considered statistically insignificant because the sample size isn’t large enough or the margin of error is too great to accurately reflect the population.
Judge peppers lawyer with questions on Arizona election suit
AP
PHOENIX — A federal judge in a lawsuit seeking to decertify the election results that gave Democrat President-elect Joe Biden his Arizona victory has peppered a lawyer with questions about why the challenge should remain alive in court.
The lawsuit alleges Arizona’s election systems have flaws that let election workers and foreign countries manipulate results. Officials have said the lawsuit uses conspiracy theories to make allegations without any proof. Judge Diane Humetewa said the lawsuit makes claims similar to those in a now-dismissed case in state court.
Julia Haller is an attorney who argued to keep the federal lawsuit alive and said her case alleges widespread fraud.
Dems challenge to Arizona redistricting panel list rejected
AP
PHOENIX — A lawsuit filed by the Arizona Legislature's Democratic leaders who wanted two of five independents who could chair the state’s redistricting commission disqualified has been dismissed by a judge.
The Democrats argued that one of the independents wasn’t qualified because he registered as a lobbyist and the other wasn’t truly an independent because he held a rally for President Donald Trump. Monday's ruling from Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Janice Crawford flatly rejected those arguments.
The redistricting commission redraws political district boundaries after each census and was designed to be free of partisan politics.
Arizona Legislature closes due to COVID-19 exposures
AP
PHOENIX — The Arizona Legislature is closing for a week because of recent potential exposure to COVID-19, including from Rudy Giuliani.
President Donald Trump's personal attorney was maskless when he met with several Republican lawmakers last week as part of his quest to overturn Trump's election loss in the state. The Trump campaign said in a statement that Giuliani tested negative twice before his visit to Arizona.
The Legislature is not in session but two informational hearings had been scheduled. House officials say the Capitol was closed in an abundance of caution. Lawmakers and staff were asked to hold the meetings remotely.
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