Arizona COVID-19 cumulative counts, Dec. 14
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Select regional and national coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic as of Tuesday, May 26. For more, visit our resource page.
Pima County defends restaurant rules
AZPM
Pima County is urging the state attorney general to uphold the county's new rules for restaurants and other businesses, which regulate social distancing and cleaning practices.
In a letter sent Friday, County Attorney Barbara LaWall told state Attorney General Mark Brnovich the county can regulate local health issues, despite the governor's claim to the contrary. Brnovich is investigating a claim by three state lawmakers who say the county acted illegally.
When Gov. Doug Ducey issued an order allowing businesses to begin reopening, he also barred local governments from doing anything that added to his order or contradicted it. The county claims the governor doesn't have that authority.
Continued unemployment claims still climbing in Arizona
AZPM
First-time claims for unemployment in Arizona last week were lower than the week before but still reflected a slowing economy.
More than 87,000 people filed first-time claims for the week ending May 23. The number of people continuing to claim unemployment in Arizona is still rising. For the last full week of May, 601,000 received benefits. The spike in numbers in recent weeks is tied to the state allowing the self-employed to file for benefits for the first time.
Click here to see the numbers.
Arizona child care centers struggle to survive during virus
AP
Less than a third of Arizona’s preschools and child care centers remain open as the industry struggles with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Arizona Daily Star reported requests for child care remain low despite Republican Gov. Doug Ducey’s call for Arizona to gradually reopen following a temporary statewide closure of nonessential businesses in March.
There are approximately 2,500 licensed child care centers, preschools and in-home providers in Arizona and about 800 of those are currently open. Facilities operating under Centers for Disease Control guidelines have limited classroom groups to no more than 10, including teachers.
Stocks rise on Wall Street, but US braces for 100,000 deaths
AP
NEW YORK — Stocks have risen as the New York Stock Exchange opened its trading floor for the first time in more than two months.
The reopening Tuesday is a largely symbolic move but an important one as the world strives to kick-start the economy during the pandemic. It comes as the U.S. braces for a grim milestone: at least 100,000 deaths from the coronavirus. And infections are mounting rapidly in places like Brazil and India.
A top global health official warned that the crisis is far from over as the coronavirus continues to rage around the globe.
Are AZ bats disease reservoirs?
KJZZ
The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 likely originated in bats, as did its cousins, which caused the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome and 2012 Middle East respiratory syndrome epidemics.
One KJZZ listener wanted to know if bats in Arizona pose a risk.
Angie McIntire is a bat biologist and the statewide bat project coordinator with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. She says bats do not attack people and are safe to observe — although people should avoid picking up wild animals, including bats, which can carry rabies.
Moreover, people should consider the valuable service the flying mammals provide in removing disease vectors.
Click to hear the story.
Arizona Senate adjourns without taking up coronavirus bills
AP
PHOENIX — The Arizona Senate’s plan to pass a series of House bills and possibly consider two pieces of coronavirus-related legislation have been upended.
It happened Tuesday when a majority of members abruptly voted to adjourn. The 16-14 vote officially ended a 2020 legislative session that had been halted in March because of the pandemic. Lawmakers are expected to be called back to work by Gov. Doug Ducey in special sessions for virus-related issues.
The adjournment stalled plans for a bill that business interests are demanding to give them sweeping immunity from from liability from people infected with the virus on the premises of the businesses.
Navajo president says reservation has passed peak
AP
WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez says recent data indicates the coronavirus peak for hospitalizations on the vast reservation occurred from April 21-26, a month earlier than initial projections.
During a live online town hall on Tuesday, Nez said initial projections showed the Navajo Nation’s COVID-19 surge peak would begin the week of May 24. Nez says implementing stay-at-home orders and weekend curfews have helped flatten the curve in certain areas of the reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
The Navajo Department of Health on Monday reported 105 new cases of coronavirus and one additional death. That pushed the tribal numbers to 4,794 cases and 157 known deaths.
Mexican border city tightens checks on US visitors
AP
CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico — Officials in a Mexican border city are tightening checks on travellers coming from Texas, saying they fear U.S. visitors may be helping feed a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Municipal and state officials in Matamoros are working with Mexico’s National Guard to set up checkpoints at the three border crossings into the city. They're questioning U.S. citizens and residents coming from Brownsville, Texas, to ensure they have essential business. And there can be only one person per vehicle.
At least 180 people were turned back at a single point on Saturday. Enforcement of border crossing restrictions until now has been spotty.
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