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Arizona
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2020-08-15Mario-themed, socially distanced birthday party
Like so many other children, we were unable to have a birthday party for my son when he turned 5. The COVID numbers were rapidly rising in Tucson last August and it would just be too unsafe to have people together to celebrate. In order to still plan something special, I made a Mario-themed scavenger hunt around town for my son so he could still see some family and friends. I made a bunch of Toads and hid clues inside and made masks of different characters, such as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Donkey Kong, etc. Starting at our house, the Toad on our front porch had a clue for my son, telling him that he had stolen his birthday present and to get it back he'd have to solve the clues. This led us from house to house, where my son would search for another Toad and another clue, while our family and friends pretended to be the different characters using the masks. Staying outside, they were all able to wish him happy birthday and hand off a birthday present. In the end, my son solved all the clues and Toad "returned" his birthday present back at our house, which was a Nintendo Switch (which was itself difficult to purchase at this time because there was such high demand with limited supply). While it wasn't a traditional birthday party, it ended up being a lot of fun and something that he still talks about. We were able to record clips of his different stops and put it together in a short video. The pandemic really made us have to rethink how we celebrate birthdays but in some cases it created unique experiences that were even more special. -
2021-10-04Show me the money
Working in law enforcement the past few years has been tough. So tough that many are reconsidering the career and either leaving or just not applying in the first place. So many agencies, including my own are now offering hiring incentives... and each agency is trying to offer better than the others to entice people to hire on. It has turned into an incentive frenzy... -
2021-08-05Tucson Unified requires masks
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and the Arizona State Legislature have attempted to make it illegal for school districts to require face masks. Tucson Unified School District's school board voted for a mask mandate in defiance of this. Other Arizona districts followed, risking the withholding of COVID relief funds that the governor is refusing to disburse to any district with a mask mandate. A judge later ruled that the law was invalid and schools could have a mask mandate. As someone with children who are in school but are too young to receive a vaccine yet, I hope districts continue to require face masks for the safety of the students and staff. The Arizona Daily Star published a story about TUSD's decision. TEXT OF ARTICLE: Tucson Unified School District is requiring all staffers, students and visitors to wear masks at all its school sites when the school year begins on Thursday, Aug. 5. The TUSD decision defies a new state law that bans public schools from issuing mask mandates. “While Gov. (Doug) Ducey and the state Legislature has decided to ignore the advice of our public health experts and endanger our community, we can’t sit idle and watch COVID inevitably spread throughout our schools and devastate so many TUSD families,” said board member Ravi Grivois-Shah during an emergency Governing Board meeting Wednesday morning. “This is why I will support, along with my colleagues, a requirement to have masks on TUSD campuses and authorize TUSD to enforce this.” The board passed the measure 4-0. Board President Leila Counts was not present for the vote. Masking in schools is an important mitigation measure to slow the spread of COVID-19, and especially the new delta variant, health agencies at the county, state and federal level all say. This week, with Tucson classrooms back at capacity, as nearly 140,000 children across Pima County are returning to classrooms in person, indoor masking is one of the remaining virus mitigation measures schools have left. Social distancing is problematic at most school sites because of large class sizes, and there’s a state ban on a vaccine mandate. Further, a vaccine is unavailable to anyone younger than 12 years old. Between July 20 and Aug. 2, there were 102 virus cases in Pima County schools and 11 outbreaks, according to data from the Health Department. Those figures occurred when most schools here were not yet open. At the end of July, cases in schools accounted for about 8% of the Pima County’s total reported cases, compared to 4% of total cases during last school year — when masks were required. The county also has seen an increase in pediatric admissions and ER visits in children over the last two weeks of July. Vail Unified is the only Tucson school district that has been open for two weeks. Without a mask mandate, the district has 57 current COVID-19 cases in students and 12 in staff workers. The county Health Department has already temporarily closed three Vail classrooms and told staffers and students to quarantine. “Last year, schools had a number of tools that are no longer available,” said Vail Superintendent John Carruth. “They had the ability to do hybrid learning with smaller class sizes, require face coverings and close classrooms if needed. This year, Vail has two instructional options for families — fully in person and fully remote. With all of our teachers assigned to in-person or fully remote instruction, we are leaning on structures we built last year to support students when (the Health Department) requires them to quarantine.” And while some parents, especially those with children not old enough to be vaccinated, fear for their children’s safety in a packed classroom with unmasked people, other parents are staunchly against mask mandates, saying it is unnecessary and even harmful. In an informal survey by the Arizona Daily Star, with 180 participants two weeks ago when the COVID-19 numbers were lower, less than a third of respondents said masks should be optional, in line with the new state law. The other two-thirds said masks should be required or schools should at least have the option to require them. TUSD, with about 42,000 students, follows at least two other school districts in the state, the Phoenix Union High and Phoenix Elementary school districts, in defying the governor and state Legislature by requiring masks. A Phoenix Union teacher sued the district over the mandate, but a court hearing on the case that was set for Wednesday morning was postponed until next week. Science teacher Douglas Hester filed a lawsuit against the Phoenix Union school district’s board members and superintendent on Aug. 2, saying the mandate is illegal and can’t be enforced. A hearing on the case is set for Aug. 13. While most Tucson school districts are strongly recommending that students and staff wear masks indoors, most have also said they don’t intend on mandating masks, including Vail, Marana, Amphitheater, Sahuarita, Sunnyside and Tanque Verde. TUSD Board Member Adelita Grijalva said the mask mandate is necessary for the following reasons: More children are getting sick from the new COVID variant; new evidence has shown that fully vaccinated people may still be able to transmit the virus; the delta variant appears to be more contagious than chickenpox; and many students in the district are too young to be vaccinated. “Probably over 30% of our district cannot be vaccinated because of age,” she said. “I know my youngest can’t. I know many of our children cannot or their friends cannot, and so we have to do everything we can in the district to ensure their safety. That’s our No. 1 priority.” -
2021-09-03Mask trash at Forest Ave
Mask trash near the pick up-drop off at Forest Ave on ASU's campus. -
2021-09-13New banner over 5th and Mill
One month after classes began on campus, this new banner was put up in downtown Tempe. It encourages the community to get vaccinated. -
2021-09-18Mask trash outside Tops Liquors
A white, disposable mask on the ground outside Tops Liquor. -
2021-09-13Mask Trash at Kiwanis Recreation Center
I took my daughter to play tennis at 5:00 PM. When we left at 6:00, this disposable mask had made its way to the ground, right by the entrance to the tennis courts. This photograph is part of the mask trash series. -
2021-09-07Mask trash
Mask trash has become so common over a year into the pandemic. This one was found on a bench in SanTan Village mall in Gilbert, Arizona. -
2020-04-21What to Know About Valley Fever During the COVID-19 Pandemic
A blog post from Banner Health on the risks of Valley Fever and the chances of coming down with both Valley Fever and Covid-19. -
2020-10-28The Minimum Wage Spotlight
The photographic story I've uploaded is about my [family member], Andres, who even with the pandemic at its worst peak, in 2020, had to continue in his job. He's an Arizona field laborer, a key worker for the farm he works in. The conditions are difficult, with a minimum wage that doesn't match the amount of work he does. As the photos indicate, his job can start at a very early time when the sun hasn't even risen. His job usually lasts 12 hours, so when it's the night shift, he doesn't come back till the morning hours. There are weeks when he has to stay inside a hot tractor for hours and there are other days when he has to do a lot of moving and carrying around. Due to the difficult weather Arizona may have, there’s a constant danger of heatstroke especially since a lot of his work includes physical labor. Looking deeper, these pictures of the work Andres does feels like a representation of the unequal power there is in the minimum wage system. Here we have a field laborer, who due to lack of education and financial resources growing up, wasn’t able to reach for higher positions that require degrees. He grew up in a poverty-stricken family and alongside being a Latino immigrant, opportunities were few and far between so in order to assure he keeps himself and his family fed and sheltered, so he’s forced to continue a job that doesn’t contain the best conditions or pay. This is only emphasized within the pandemic, minimum wage workers forced to continue working in bad conditions including the risk of getting sick because, in order to keep their head above water, they must. And yet, even with all the dangers and the long hours, their pay doesn’t reflect the job. This also connects to race, minorities most of the time stuck in these places due to the disadvantages they grew up with and continue to face. It’s the life of an individual who is input in a life in which already starts with less compared to privileged others, and then a pandemic hits which only emphasizes the disadvantages already there. Overall, the pandemic truly has put a spotlight on the many issues society already had. -
2021-08-21Mask trash outside the CDL
Wednesday, August 18 was the eve of the first day of classes at Arizona State University. It was also the first week that the Child Development Lab (CDL) was open for daycare on campus. I picked my son up around 5:00 PM and took this picture of mask trash, likely unintentionally dropped by one of the parents outside the center. This image is part of the mask trash series. -
2021-08-16Masks at the Child Development Lab on Campus
Today, after 2 weeks without daycare, ASU reopened its daycare on campus. I dropped my son off at the CDL daycare this morning, and all the kids are now required to wear a mask. This was not a big deal, because I won't let my son go grocery shopping with me unless he wears a mask, he sees his older sister wearing a mask, so the process is normalized. Last night CVS was selling kids masks with a 2-for-1 sale. Since masks always going missing at home, I bought a new one for each of them. This morning I gave one to my son Juli, and it disappeared. He claimed it was in his backpack, but I looked over the bag and didn't see it. So I gave him the second mask, the only clean one left and when I put him in the car I noticed he didn't have the mask. He said it was in his backpack, which I checked quickly and didn't see. I was frustrated and grabbed a mask out of the dirty laundry. On arriving at the CDL, he didn't want to wear the third mask because it was "stinky." I'm sure it was. I told his caregiver what happened and she said they could give him a disposable mask. I took the stinky mask and shoved it in my purse. 10 minutes later the caregiver texted to say she found both cloth masks in his bag, and everything was fine. My poor 3-year-old was right, and I was too frantic to see the truth. I feel like a hot mess mom today. -
2020-03-16Banner Health’s chief clinical officer available to speak with media about COVID-19
A press release from Banner Health announcing that Dr. Marjorie Bessel is leading Banner’s COVID-19 system preparedness efforts and is available to speak with the media. -
2020-03-17Banner Health to hold virtual hiring event
A press release from Banner Health announcing a virtual hiring event, especially looking for medical assistants and positions in patient financial services. -
2020-03-18Banner Health implementing new visitor restrictions
A press release from Banner Health announcing visitor restrictions to go into effect 7 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, at all Banner hospitals. -
2020-03-18Banner Health will not provide COVID-19 'back-to-work' clearances
A press release from Banner Health announcing that employers should not advise employees to use emergency rooms for back-to-work clearance -
2020-03-20Banner Health enhances visitor restrictions
A press release from Banner health announcing restrictions now to include locations in addition to hospitals -
2020-03-23Banner Health opens COVID-19 specimen collection sites
Banner Health today announced a new process for COVID-19 specimen collection in Arizona. -
2020-03-23Banner Health experts warn against self-medicating to prevent or treat COVID-19
Medical toxicologists and emergency physicians are warning the public against the use of inappropriate medications and household products to prevent or treat COVID-19. In particular, Banner Health experts emphasize that chloroquine, a malaria medication, should not be ingested to treat or prevent this virus. -
2020-03-24Banner Health offers ways to help health care workers
A press release announcing how the community can help healthcare workers and that the Banner Health Foundation is accepting donations to two charitable funds. -
2020-03-24Banner, Vitalant partner to encourage blood donations
A press release announcing that Banner Health is partnering with the region's blood bank operator in an effort to restore blood donations, which have significantly dropped during the outbreak of COVID-19 cases. -
2020-03-25Banner Health employees volunteer to make masks for frontline staff
Handmade masks aim to preserve supply of personal protective equipment -
2020-03-27Six heroes bring meals to Banner Olive Branch seniors during volunteer shortage
Facing a massive shortage of volunteers who normally serve 400 meals a day at Banner Olive Branch Senior Center, six volunteer heroes are stepping up to do the same work typically done by 200 volunteers. -
2020-03-29Arizona nurses head north to combat COVID-19
A press release from Banner Health announcing that ten nurses from three Banner hospitals in the Phoenix area arrived Sunday in Greeley to serve a two-week assignment at North Colorado Medical Center. -
2020-03-30Banner Health accepting donations of medical supplies, PPE
A press release announcing that The Banner Health Foundation is now collecting donated medical supplies and personal protective equipment, or PPE, in partnership with Project C.U.R.E. in Tempe. -
2020-04-01Greeley brewers, distilleries now make hand sanitizer
A press release from Banner Helath describing efforts and how it benefits Banner Health hospitals, keeps employees on the job -
2020-04-02Banner Health implements PPE policy changes regarding N95 use
A press release from Banner Health highlighting changes to policy; moves taken to save as many lives as possible; ensure safety of health care workers -
2020-04-02Banner activates triage tents at acute care hospital emergency rooms to manage influx of patients
A press release announcing that Banner Health is activating triage tents at its acute care hospitals to build capacity for the sickest patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic. These are not COVID-19 specimen collection sites, and they are not for the worried well or those with mild COVID-19 symptoms that can be managed at home. -
2020-04-02Banner Health prepares for influx of patients amid COVID-19 pandemic
A press release from Banner Health announcing that they are "working diligently and deliberately to make sure we are best prepared to handle an influx of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are monitoring capacity, resources and staffing in real-time, making adjustments to our emergency operations, when needed." -
2020-04-023D printing community creates face shields as PPE
As Banner Health ensures it has the necessary supplies to keep its patients and team members safe, Banner Innovation Group is collaborating with community partners to create an array of supplies that meet CDC guidelines and are able to be sourced locally and quickly. Most recently, that innovative partnership brought in the help of the 3D printing community to create face shields. -
2020-04-06Banner Health seeking 100,000 homemade masks
In an effort to protect the health and safety of Banner Health employees and patients, the Banner Health Foundation is seeking 100,000 hand-crafted comfort masks donated by volunteers, sewing groups, and companies with fabrication capabilities. -
2020-04-10Chinese American community supplies Arizona hospitals with 100,000 procedure masks
A press release from Banner Health announcing that more than 100,000 Level 1 procedure masks were delivered from China to Arizona-based hospitals this week, thanks to the ingenuity and passion of a dedicated group of Chinese American residents within the state. -
2020-04-12Respiratory therapists deploy from Arizona to Colorado to treat COVID-19 patients
A press release from Banner Health announcing that four respiratory therapists deployed this weekend to help their fellow Banner Health team members in northern Colorado, which has seen a large number of patients with COVID-19. They will be in Greeley, Colo., for at least two weeks—some opting to stay at least four weeks, based on need—to help Banner balance its staffing needs across the nonprofit health care provider's six-state footprint. -
2020-04-13Banner Health urges water safety for kids in times of self-isolation
A press release from Banner Health reminding residents about water safety. -
2020-04-13Brush, Colo., woman gives Banner Health reason to celebrate
Jocie Rocha left North Colorado Medical Center to cheers and applause Monday afternoon and putting a smile on the faces of many hospital caregivers. Jocie was the 100th patient to be discharged from the hospital after being treated for COVID-19. -
2020-04-15Blood donations encouraged as pandemic impacts supply
A press release from Banner Health announcing that, with many regularly scheduled blood drives closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Banner Health is partnering with Vitalant, the region's blood bank operator, to encourage blood donations and help restore supply. -
2020-05-15Banner Children’s invites kids to join ‘Clean Hands Club’
Banner Children’s is encouraging kids to join the "Clean Hands Club" by taking part in a fun coloring challenge while learning about the importance of proper handwashing, especially during a pandemic. -
2020-04-17Banner Urgent Care – non-respiratory locations now seeing patients
A press release from Banner Health announcing that it is now offering Banner Urgent Care – non-respiratory locations at select urgent care sites in Phoenix, Tucson and in Northern Colorado. -
2020-04-17Arizona poison centers warn of an increase in poisoning cases during COVID-19 pandemic
A press release from Banner health stating that Poison Centers across the nation are seeing an increase in exposures to household cleaning products, chemicals, and medications. As more people are working remotely and children schooling at home, there is an increased potential for poisoning accidents. People are distracted and in unfamiliar routines. -
2020-04-20Banner hospitals open grocery stores for employees
A press release announcing that select Banner Health hospitals have opened makeshift grocery stores for employees working on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. -
2020-04-21Banner Health amplía sus servicios de “telehealth” para COVID-19
En un esfuerzo extraordinario para atender las necesidades médicas de la comunidad, Banner Health ha ampliado sus servicios para ofrecer a pacientes consultas por video en vivo con médicos en un entorno seguro a través de Banner Telehealth. -
2020-04-21Banner Health expands telehealth for COVID-19
A press release from Banner Health announcing that in an effort to serve the community's health care needs, Banner Health has expanded services to offer patients live video visits with medical providers in a safe environment through Banner Telehealth. -
2020-04-21Former Banner employees return as front-line staff
A press release describing how several former Banner Health employees are returning to work to help the medical team throughout Arizona during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last month alone, more than 18 employees have rejoined various teams across Banner’s statewide facilities. -
2020-04-23Banner Imaging – non-respiratory locations now available for medical imaging services
A press release from Banner health announcing that Banner Health now has two Banner Imaging – non-respiratory locations in the Phoenix area -
2020-04-24Banner Health urges former COVID-19 patients to donate plasma for current patients
With the need for "convalescent plasma" to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients ramping up as cases rise, Banner Research is providing donation coordinators in metro Phoenix, Tucson and Northern Colorado to help recovered COVID-19 patients get through the plasma donation process. The donation coordinators are equipped to assess qualifying criteria for potential donors, answer questions and explain how the donation process works. -
2020-04-27Banner Health expands COVID-19 testing in Arizona and Colorado
A press release from Banner Health announcing that is has opened three new COVID-19 drive-thru collection sites this week and added lanes to its original sites, expanding capacity from 4,000 appointments per week to 13,500. -
2020-05-01Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust awards $750,000 to support Banner Health during COVID-19
A press release from Banner health announcing that the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust has awarded an unrestricted grant of $750,000 to the Banner Health Foundation. Banner leadership has chosen to allocate these funds to the Supporting Our Staff (SOS) Fund to help its health care workforce during this challenging time. -
2020-05-04Banner Children's offers coloring activity for kids' water safety
A press release from Banner Health announcing that with more children at home and outdoor temperatures rising, Banner Children’s is encouraging families to remember the ABCs of water safety by creating a fun coloring activity for kids and providing information about drowning prevention. -
2020-05-05New app gives moms-to-be flexibility in receiving care
A press release from Banner Health announcing a new digital tool used by Banner Health physicians allows pregnant women to monitor their prenatal health at home and make fewer trips to the doctor’s office. -
2020-05-08Banner Health salutes med staff for ‘giving us hope’
A press release from Banner Health announcing how they are honoring the sacrifices made by nurses and other frontline employees, with activities and advertisements during National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week.