Arizona COVID-19 cumulative counts, Dec. 14
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Select regional and national coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic as of Wednesday, April 8. For more coverage, visit our resource page. This story may be updated.
Groups: Accelerated deportations are sending migrants to ill-equipped border towns
AZPM, April 8
The U.S. Border Patrol is expelling migrants arrested at the border in a matter of minutes under an emergency U.S. health code called Title 42. The agency says the protocol helps stop the spread of the coronavirus. But aid groups say it's sending migrants to remote border towns that aren’t prepared to care for them.
One of those places is the Sonoran town of Sasabe. Border Patrol spokesperson Daniel Hernandez said the agency could not provide exact numbers, but did acknowledge the change.
"We are seeing an uptick in that area. It could be a mild uptick. But if they are being expelled from the country in the area, it means they were caught somewhere nearby," he said.
A conversation with the head of the Baboquivari Unified School District
AZPM, April 8
The Baboquivari Unified School District serves students across the Tohono O'odham Nation. Vanessa Barchfield spoke with Superintendent Edna Morris about how the district is meeting the needs of its 1,100 students following the closure of schools for the remainder of the academic year.
Immigration legal groups seek emergency restraining order against feds
Fronteras Desk, April 8
Legal groups want a federal judge to call an emergency timeout on in-person immigration court hearings to protect people from the coronavirus.
The move is part of a recent lawsuit in which most of the detained plaintiffs are being held in Arizona.
If the judge agrees, Immigration and Customs Enforcement would have to set up a way so detainees can talk with their lawyers remotely and in private. The Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review would have to create a way for everyone involved in immigration court hearings to take part remotely.
Ducey COVID-19 treatment order splits health officials
Cronkite News, April 8
TEMPE – While President Donald Trump touts an anti-malarial drug as a possible coronavirus treatment, Gov. Doug Ducey is allowing its use in limited circumstances in Arizona – dividing advocates over whether he’s gone too far or not far enough.
The debate comes just two weeks after an Arizona couple was hospitalized – and the husband died – after trying to treat themselves with chloroquine phosphate. The drug, used to treat malaria and other diseases, has been mentioned as a possible treatment for COVID-19, but has not undergone rigorous testing for that.
Ducey issued an executive order last week easing restrictions on pharmacists in the face of COVID-19 shutdowns, but his order walked a fine line on when and how chloroquine and a related drug, hydroxychloroquine, could be dispensed.
2 Arizona inmates test positive for virus, receive treatment
AP, April 8
PHOENIX (AP) — State officials say two inmates in Arizona’s have tested positive for the coronavirus. The cases are the first reported within the state prison system since the beginning of the outbreak.
The Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry announced late Tuesday that one of the inmates has been hospitalized since March 27 because of symptoms unrelated to the coronavirus and previously tested negatively twice at the unspecified hospital for the virus.
The department says the second inmate tested positive at a privately operated state facility in the Tucson suburb of Marana. Both inmates are receiving what the department called appropriate medical care.
Legislature extends recess, to reassess at end of April
AP, April 8
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Legislature has informed members and staff that it will extend its recess and assess the coronavirus situation again at the end of the month.
Lawmakers adjourned on March 23 after passing a bare-bones emergency state budget and hoped to reconvene on April 13 to finish the yearly session. House Speaker Rusty Bowers said Tuesday in an email to members and staff that it will not yet be safe to reconvene. Bowers said he and Senate President Karen Fann would give members ample notice before they are called back into session.
Page man arrested for urging killings of Navajo over virus
AP, April 7
PAGE, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities in northern Arizona have arrested a man for writing a racist social media post accusing Navajo people of carrying the coronavirus and calling for their deaths.
The Page Police Department announced Tuesday that 34-year-old Daniel Franzen was taken into custody on suspicion of attempting to incite an act of terrorism. Police say they received reports Monday of a Facebook post that urged people to use “lethal force” against the Navajo community because they were “100% infected” with COVID-19. Investigators say they traced the post to Franzen. He has been booked into Coconino County jail.
The city of Page borders the Navajo Nation, the nation’s largest Native American reservation.
Countries start thinking about easing up on restrictions
AP, April 8
NEW YORK (AP) — Even as coronavirus deaths continue to mount across Europe, New York and other hot spots, governments are beginning to envision an exit strategy and contemplating a staggered and carefully calibrated relaxation of the restrictions designed to curb the scourge.
At the same time, politicians and public health officials emphatically warn that while deaths, hospitalizations and new infections may be leveling off in some places, the crisis is far from over. They say a catastrophic second wave could hit if countries let their guard down too soon.
Jobless claims report Thursday could hit 7 million or higher
AP, April 8
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government is set to report another shocking level of unemployment claims Thursday even after nearly 10 million people applied for benefits in the previous two weeks because of business shutdowns from the coronavirus.
The number will likely keep increasing, in part because many states are still clearing out backlogs of applications for unemployment aid. And with more companies running through their cash cushions as the virus-related shutdowns persist, they are resorting to layoffs to save money.
As job cuts mount, here are five aspects of the bleakest U.S. job market in memory.
Some doctors moving away from ventilators for virus patients
AP, April 8
NEW YORK (AP) — Health officials around the world are pushing to get more ventilators to treat coronavirus patients, but some doctors actually are moving away from using the machines.
The reason is that some hospitals have reported unusually high death rates for coronavirus patients on ventilators. Also, some doctors worry that the machines could be harming certain patients. Generally speaking, 40% to 50% of patients with severe respiratory distress die while on ventilators. But as many as 85% of the coronavirus patients placed on the machines within New York City’s public hospital system have died.
Mexico loses almost 350,000 jobs because of coronavirus
AP, April 8
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's Labor Department says the country has lost 346,748 jobs since mid-March due to the economic impact of coronavirus and distancing measures imposed to fights its spread.
The biggest job losses occurred in the heavily tourism-dependent Caribbean coastal state of Quintana Roo, which lost almost 64,000 jobs. The state is home to resorts like Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The department said Wednesday the biggest job losses during the period from March 13 to April 6 came at firms with 50 workers or more, rather than the smaller businesses that dominate Mexico's economic landscape. It said there was no legal basis for firing or laying off workers because of a public health emergency.
Congress in standoff on virus aid but first checks coming
AP, April 8
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is rushing headlong into a conflict over the next coronavirus aid package.
The White House wants to pump $250 billion into a small business fund but opposes Democrats’ proposal to tack on billions for protective gear, food stamps and aid to state and local governments.
Still, signs of fresh progress emerged on getting aid out the door. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told lawmakers direct deposits to Americans will begin next week. Mnuchin also said $98 billion has been approved for the small business loans, according to a person unauthorized to discuss a private conference call with lawmakers and granted anonymity.
President Donald Trump urged passage of the small business funds “ASAP.” A test vote is set for Thursday.
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