Arizona COVID-19 cumulative counts, Dec. 14
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Select regional and national coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic as of Thursday, April 9, impacting Arizona. For more coverage, visit our resource page. This story may be updated.
UA president wants to test entire campus community for antibodies
AZPM, April 9
Researchers at the University of Arizona are working to develop a blood test to determine whether or not someone has or has had COVID-19 by detecting antibodies.
The university is lining up financial partners to cover the cost of producing 50,000 of the tests. UA President Robert Robbins in a Wednesday telephone town hall said that is not a random number.
“My position on this is, we’ve got 45,000 students and 15,000 employees, ... the charge for Mike [Dake, vice president of UA Health Sciences] and his team is in the first run of this to produce 50,000 tests that are available to all of the University of Arizona community. And we want to test everyone. I think there is nothing more important we could do as we get the data back to help us decide about when to bring our students, faculty and staff back to campus,” said Robbins.
Coronavirus measures hamper education initiatives striving to get onto ballot
AZPM, April 9
To qualify for this autumn's general election, organizers of ballot initiatives need to collect 237,645 verified signatures.
"And living in the state of Arizona, where signatures are crossed off left and right for any number of reasons — they could be invalid. We were looking to get many more than that, probably closer to 400,000 or so," said Wes Oswald, a fourth grade teacher at Manzo Elementary School in Tucson and one of the organizers of the Invest In Ed campaign, which began collecting signatures in February.
"It's a massive effort, and COVID-19 has just made it that much more difficult."
Situation for renters and landlords is uncertain
AZPM, April 9
The biggest monthly expense for most Arizonans is housing. With record unemployment, the state and federal governments have three main strategies aimed at helping people living paycheck to paycheck. But tenant advocates and landlords say the assistance only scratches the surface.
The cost of rent in Arizona was already one of the fastest-growing in the nation. Then the pandemic arrived. In the last three weeks, more than 250,000 Arizonans have filed for unemployment. Even with a federal stimulus check on the way, many renters are in a precarious spot.
Learn more about the three strategies.
Bill would expand relief to migrant families
AZPM, April 9
President Trump signed a $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package at the end of March. But immigrant families are not currently allowed access. Last week, Southern Arizona Congressman Raúl Grijalva introduced the Coronavirus Immigrant Family Protection Act with Democratic representatives in California. They say the legislation will address disparities.
Click to hear a discussion with Grijalva.
Rio Nuevo cites grim tax revenue forecast
AZPM, April 9
Zero. That's how much sales tax revenue Rio Nuevo predicts it will generate through September. The coronavirus pandemic comes at a tough time for the district, which has committed to high profile projects like the $65 million renovation of the Tucson Convention Center.
Rio Nuevo oversees what was once Tucson's bustling downtown, but is now more like a ghost town. It's a bad time to be in the economic development business.
All of the venues, bars and restaurants downtown are closed. Some may not be able to reopen once the shutdown is over.
The Rio Nuevo board voted Wednesday to establish a $2.5 million grant program for merchants in the district. The board is asking the city of Tucson to match its contribution to the program.
But the district isn't in the clear. It's committed to projects it can no longer afford. Which means several will have to be postponed until money returns to downtown.
Arizona orders: Restaurants can sell groceries
AZPM, April 9
Orders from Gov. Doug Ducey and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero will allow restaurants to sell food and other products as though they are small grocery stores. The orders allow the change without any new permits. The idea behind the plan is to take some pressure off grocery stores but also allow restaurants to sell excess food. The order also covers dry goods. It will be reviewed every two weeks.
Looking forward to supporting our local restaurants in a whole new way! As of yesterday, Tucson restaurants can offer grocery services for the community. #SomosUno #ShopLocal pic.twitter.com/OvSioylg3E
— Regina Romero (@TucsonRomero) April 9, 2020
COVID-19 prompts changes at PACC
AZPM, April 9
The COVID-19 crisis is impacting workers — and animals — at the Pima Animal Care Center.
The majority of the animals at the center are currently being cared for at foster homes as a way to reduce staffing and minimize human-to-human contact.
Director of Animal Services Kristen Hassen emphasized the center is approaching a busy season for the care of dogs and cats being brought to the shelter.
“We know thousands of animals are going to need our help over the next few months, and we’re also going to have to house pets whose owners are hospitalized or who, in the worst case possible, die from coronavirus," said Hassen.
Researchers analyze genomes to track coronavirus in Arizona
AP, April 9
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona researchers are now using supercomputers to analyze the genomes of coronavirus samples taken in Arizona.
The data is allowing them to trace the outbreak in detail to understand where the virus is coming from, how its spreading through the population and how it's changing. The information can help public health officials better target their response. It also can ensure diagnostic tests and vaccines are effective as the virus mutates over time.
The work is being done by a team of researchers from the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Northern Arizona University and University of Arizona.
U.S. states share, get creative in hunt for medical supplies
AP, April 9
With the federal stockpile drained of protective gear, states are turning to each other, private industries and anyone who can donate in a desperate bid to get respirators, gloves and other supplies to doctors, nurses and other front-line workers.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Wednesday that the federal cupboard is officially bare at least through this month after it was able to fulfill just a sliver of states’ requests. States already have begun working together, whether it's forming regional alliances to create greater purchasing power or sending excess supplies to hot spots.
Police: Domestic violence on rise in Phoenix amid pandemic
AP, April 9
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Police Department has reported an increase in domestic violence as more people remain home during the coronavirus pandemic.
KTAR-FM reported that the department dispatched officers on 3,587 domestic violence calls in March as travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders were implemented to combat the spread of COVID-19. Police say that is a 5.6% increase in calls responding to reports of family fights or aggravated assault with domestic partners compared to March of 2019. Sgt.
Mercedes Fortune says there was a 15% increase in the first week of April compared to the same week last year.
Trump quietly shuts down asylum at US borders to fight virus
AP, April 8
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Trump administration has quietly shut down the nation’s asylum system for the first time in decades amid the coronavirus.
The U.S. has used an obscure public health law to justify one of its most aggressive border enforcement tactics ever. People seeking refuge in the U.S. are whisked to the nearest border crossing and returned to Mexico without a chance to seek asylum.
The government has temporarily swept aside decades-old national and international laws, saying holding people in custody is considered too dangerous. A congressional aide tells The Associated Press that the U.S. has expelled more than 7,000 people in less than two weeks.
16.8M Americans out of work; Easter celebrations move online
AP, April 9
NEW YORK (AP) — A staggering 16.8 million Americans have lost their jobs in just three weeks in a measure of how fast the coronavirus has brought world economies to their knees.
Meanwhile, religious leaders around the globe are urging people to celebrate Good Friday and Easter from the safety of their homes. Politicians and public health officials warn that the hard-won gains against the scourge must not be jeopardized by relaxing social distancing over the holiday weekend. In Europe, authorities set up roadblocks.
IMF head sees worst economic downturn since Great Depression
AP, April 9
WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the International Monetary Fund says the coronavirus pandemic will push the global economy into the deepest recession since the Great Depression.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Thursday that the world's poorest countries will be hardest hit. Her remarks came as she previewed next week’s virtual meetings of the 189-nation IMF and its sister lending organization, the World Bank.
She said that the IMF will release an updated world economic forecast on Tuesday that will show just how quickly the coronavirus outbreak has turned what had been expected to be a solid year of growth into a deep downturn.
Coronavirus forces new approaches to fighting wildfires
AP, April 9
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — They are two disasters that require opposite responses: To save lives and reduce the spread of COVID-19, people are being told to remain isolated.
But in a wildfire, thousands of firefighters will be summoned to work in close quarters for weeks. That’s requiring the U.S. Forest Service and others to change strategies. In light of the “unprecedented challenge” of the pandemic, Forest Service Chief Victoria Christiansen says resources will be used only when there is a reasonable expectation of success in protecting life and critical property and infrastructure.
Wildfires have already broken out in Texas and Florida, and agencies are scrambling to finish plans for a new approach.
HHS: Federal stocks of protective equipment nearly depleted
AP, April 9
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Strategic National Stockpile is nearly out of N95 respirators, surgical masks, face shields, gowns and other supplies desperately needed to protect front-line medical workers treating coronavirus patients.
The House Oversight committee has released documents showing that about 90% of all the personal protective equipment in the stockpile has been distributed to state and local governments. The remaining 10% is being held in reserve for federal workers.
House Democrats say the Trump Administration is leaving states to fend for themselves, competing with each other and federal agencies in a free-for-all bidding war that drives up prices.
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