Items

2020-11-20

Banner Health reinstates no visitor policy at all Arizona locations.

A press release detailing Banner Health reinstating no visitor policy at all Arizona locations, going into effect at 6 p.m. on Nov. 22

2020-11-20

Banner Health joins Mayo Clinic, Dignity Health and others to spread "Mask Up" message Wearing a face mask is best way to slow down surging COVID-19 pandemic

Banner Health is pleased to join local health organizations Mayo Clinic and Dignity Health (CommonSpirit Health), as well as other top U.S. health systems, in a "Mask Up" promotion campaign designed to encourage everyone to wear a mask as protection for themselves and others against COVID-19.

2020-11-24

Banner Health virtual press conference transcript and video Chief Clinical Officer addresses COVID-19 response across six-state service area

Banner Health hosted a COVID-19 press conference with speaker Dr. Marjorie Bessel, chief clinical officer at Banner Health. Dr. Bessel addressed topics such as capacity, staffing, current treatments available, vaccine distribution and mitigation efforts.

2021-07-16

Arizona governor says schools can't force unvaccinated students to quarantine if they're exposed to Covid-19

This CNN article discusses a recent letter sent out by Gov. Doug Ducey's education adviser, that said requiring unvaccinated students to quarantine after a COVID exposure is against state law because Arizona does not require students to be vaccinated or wear face masks. I am from NYS and this is drastically different than what Gov. Andrew Cuomo is requiring and/or recommending for students in public schools and state universities. It is bizarre how different states and governors are handling the COVID and vaccination situation.

2021-02-01

Why is Arizona worst for COVID-19 nationwide? Here are 7 contributing reasons

This article discusses why Arizona's Covid rate was the highest in the country as of February 1, 2021. Contributing factors included a lack of mask-wearing and cross-border traffic.

03/29/2020

Arizona nurses support Colorado colleagues

Ten nurses from Banner Health’s Arizona hospitals are heading to northern Colorado to assist their colleagues at the Banner-owned hospital in Greeley, North Colorado Medical Center.

07/22/2021

Banner Health COVID-19 fairgrounds test site

Banner Health team members administer COVID-19 tests at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. B-Roll is available for download, editing and broadcast. More info: http://bannerhealth.mediaroom.com/COVID-19info

07/22/2021

COVID-19 vaccinations with Dr. Bessel

Marjorie Bessel, MD, chief clinical officer of Banner Health, is on site at Arizona State Fairgrounds where Banner is administering thousands of vaccines.

07/22/2021

COVID-19 vaccinations

Interview with Nancy Zismann, chief clinical services officer, Banner Health Zismann talks about Banner's vaccine operations. As of Feb. 5, 2021, Banner has provided more than 130,000 vaccines.

12/08/2020

COVID-19 Dec. 9, 2020 press conference

Marjorie Bessel, MD, chief clinical officer of Banner Health, talks about the pandemic, increasing numbers of hospitalizations and what to expect in coming weeks

12/30/2021

COVID-19 Dec. 30, 2020 press conference

Marjorie Bessel, MD, chief clinical officer of Banner Health, gives an update on how the health system is dealing with the pandemic and the importance of masking up to contain the spread of COVID-19.

01/06/2021

COVID-19 Jan. 6, 2021 press conference

Marjorie Bessel, MD, chief clinical officer of Banner Health, gives an update on how the health care system is managing the COVID-19 surge in six states.

01/12/2021

COVID-19 Jan. 13, 2021 press conference

Marjorie Bessel, MD and other metro Phoenix health leaders discuss how their health systems are handling the challenges of Arizona's record number of cases.

01/27/2021

COVID-19 Jan. 27, 2021 press conference

Marjorie Bessel, MD, chief medical officer of Banner Health, talks about the need for vaccination and social distancing as Arizona experiences slightly fewer COVID-19 cases.

2020-06-30

"We're leaving the hospital sometimes in tears": Arizona doctors worry as ICUs fill

(PHOENIX) -- Hospitals in Arizona are seeing an intense wave of new coronavirus cases, doctors at the Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix told ABC News on Monday, and it is filling up their intensive care units and pushing their nurses to the brink.

2020-10-27

Banner Health: Current COVID-19 surge could surpass rates from June

Preparing for a surge; Banner warns that things could be worse than in the summer.

2020-06-05

Banner Health warns COVID-19 trend could overload Arizona hospitals

Banner Health Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Marjorie Bessel told media Friday that intensive care units in Arizona were very busy.

2020-12-09

Doctors express concern as hospital beds fill in Arizona

Some doctors around the state are sounding the alarm on the number of available hospital beds - or lack thereof - as coronavirus cases surge.

2020-05-25

First Hug in Months

My family and I have always been really close, meeting for family days as often as we can. Family gatherings will begin and end with hugs. When the pandemic started, we ensured that we isolated from everyone, even each other, as we all live in separate households and my father and sister have autoimmune diseases, and I have asthma and two heart conditions. Basically, Covid-19 was dangerous for all of us and we were afraid not only to contract it, but even more so to possibly give it to each other. While we would talk over Google Duo and Zoom, it honestly was not the same as getting to interact in person. There is huge importance and one could even say power in human contact, in human touch. It can be something that inflicts pain or reassurance. In this case, I lost the reassurance of hugs and seeing my family in person. The first time I hugged my older sister after lockdown started was about three months after lockdown began. We had both been isolated for weeks without symptoms and without having gone anywhere, and we had both tested negative for it. It had been the longest time I have gone without hugging her. I cried.

2021-05-10

Mothers Day 2021

I was expecting a take-home craft this year from my Kindergartener especially with covid restrictions mostly still in place. Instead, her teacher and school went above and beyond. We all wore masks and each class took turns in the cafeteria in order to limit the number of people. We were surprised by placemats (spaced six feet apart) with snacks and a water bottle. My daughter was able to show me work and pictures from her Kindergarten year, while I ate my snacks she gave me the sweetest "massage" then read me a book. The kids then got up on stage and sang us a song as best they could. I'm not the sort to cry but I did. I'm not sure if it was because my daughter is just so cute or if it was the realization of how strong she's been this year. Virtual learning was tough, wearing a mask to school was tough, being six during a global pandemic was tough but my daughter showed me that she's tougher. I hope one day she will realize just how much I admire her.

2021-05-27

Teachers Rock

Right before COVID-19 hit my husband made the transition from active duty military to reservist. After eight years we were finally given the gift to settle down and live a "normal" life. January of 202 we moved into our home and three months later we were facing a quarantine. That same in the midst of that my daughter started kindergarten. It was a moment I had thought of for quite some time. In my mind, I would take lots of pictures, walk her to her class and tearfully walk back to my car and having a pity party about my growing girl. Instead, my daughter spent her first day at home in front of a computer while I fought to get into her virtual classroom. For months we dealt with virtual than in class then back to virtual learning as COVID cases peaked. My daughters Kindergarten teacher was the only constant bright light throughout the school year. Through it all she worked tirelessly to make sure the kids had a positive school experience. She went out of her way to make sure the school brought them joy in the midst of the chaotic year, having her in my daughter's life became personal to my family. At the end of the school year she sent out her last newsletter thanking parents but the reality of it is- she was a complete rockstar and we will forever be grateful. I wanted to share her last newsletter in hopes that it reflects an ounce of how difficult this school year was for teachers and how resilient children were.

2020-07-12

A Nurse at Tucson Medical Center

Tucson Medical Center went from no Covid patients in January 2020 to approx 160 at the peak (actually our third) in January 2021. It was amazing to see how quickly beds were repurposed, negative flow rooms were engineered, elective surgeries were cancelled and all the staff rallied around the ever changing patient case loads. Paula Marshall, RN July 12, 2020 at TMC Bed Control Department I work at Bed Control. We accepted patients from mostly southern Arizona from our ER and from the surrounding rural hospital. The Covid Surg line would call distributing covid patients needing admission throughout the area. When I graduated from nursing school in 1974, I never guessed that our world would experience a pandemic in my lifetime. I never knew that my job would change the way my family viewed my job. I don’t work at the bedside but work in an office and contribute to bed utilization. My son’s family lives 6 miles from me but I was invited to visit 4 times during 2020. My granddaughter said, “you work in a hospital. You could have Covid and not know it.” Gee whiz

2020-03-18

All We Have Is Each Other

From the start of Covid-19 schools begin to get cancelled and change their way of teaching the students. Children, teens, adults, and seniors had to change everything involving their lifestyle. What we knew as a normal life could no longer be the same. Everyone had to be cautious of their surroundings and use protection gear. Before everything changed our lives my family and I would always get together every sunday. After the CDC recommended that there should be an approximate of 8 people per house in gatherings we decided to not get together as often since a family member worked in a senior home and we had learned that at that time seniors were more likely to get the virus. As the number of cases grew in Arizona and the border closed we didn't get time to see some family. It has been over a year since I haven't seen my grandparents. We call each other to see how we are doing. In my household it is only my mom and I along with my 3 dogs. What we took out of this was better bonding time, school ended early and jobs started to lay off employees because there weren't enough jobs. I had time to train my dogs and learn more commands, which was fun. I learned to do new things. My mom is a cosmetologist so she taught me how to cut hair, and how to apply gel polish. As things started to calm down families around my neighborhood would come out their front yard together and play with their kids and pets more. Families would eat outside and have a good time. But now everything is going back to normal. Sporting events are getting open to the public, and schools are going back to in person. I had learned that many families around my neighborhood shared the same experience.

2021-04-22

Lost Time

This story is a personal one. i hope it encourages others to love their loved ones and hold them close.

2021-04-21

COVID-19, Religion, and Public Life Reflection

Throughout this past year, COVID-19 has affected each and every person, whether emotionally or physically, but I believe that it also has taught us so much about ourselves and allowed us to empathize with those around us who may be struggling in similar ways. The object I submitted is a photograph of my best friend and myself at a Black Lives Matter protest in Downtown Phoenix on June 3rd, 2020. As the pandemic has forced us to remain at home, it has given me the time to not only focus on personal growth, but also learn more about groups of people that are being oppressed around the world. I have become a more active member in society this past year listening to Black voices by furthering my knowledge on the discriminations they continue to face, and how their experiences of COVID-19 are different from white Americans. This has really opened my eyes to see how many different races are being oppressed, either by being blamed for the occurrence of the pandemic, or by how decisions are made surrounding who deserves priority treatment over another patient on the bias of race, ethnicity, or wealth status. I am grateful to have learned so much about these topics and for being able to attend numerous Black Lives Matter protests, and wish to continue to stand up for what I believe in as an active member in my community. Throughout the pandemic, I believe that relationships within religious communities have strengthened because individuals are looking for even more hope that their loved ones will survive and that everything will be over soon. Religion has played an important role in helping many throughout this difficult time by letting people know they are not alone and have an entire community to support them. Upon working hard to become the best version of myself and really see the world in a more positive manner, I have learned so much about the need for spreading positive energy and support especially to those whose voices were particularly oppressed during this time, or to those who were directly affected by COVID-19. In the midst of this, we must look past our differences and help each other out, because violence and disagreement will not further our progress.

2021-04-20

JOTPY Exhibit: "Arizona's COVID-19 Pandemics" by James Rayroux

While working as a curatorial intern on ASU's 'A Journal of the Plague Year' COVID-19 archive, I created this exhibit on the pandemic experience within the state. In addition to obvious, overarching realities such as socioeconomic status and immediate access to healthcare systems, I initially believed one of the greatest deciding factors that determined one's experience in Arizona was an individual's residence in either predominantly urban or rural environments. The proposed exhibit had been originally titled "A Tale of Two Arizonas" to pay respect to Charles Dickens and the differing realities experienced here. To test my proposed hypothesis, I went about finding data, stories, and submissions that substantiated or disputed my premise. Within a short time, I had identified four distinct environmental drivers of personal pandemic experiences; to me, that indicated the existence of many more I hadn't yet found or had overlooked along the way. My evidence suggested a minimum of four pandemic locales: Urban, Rural, Border, and Tribal within the State of Arizona and its fifteen counties. The recorded health data and personal experiences demonstrated the naivete of my initial hypothesis, and I retitled the exhibit: "Arizona's COVID-19 Pandemics." The Exhibit Background section illustrates the vast dichotomies within Arizona in terms of population density and access to healthcare facilities. Given the virus's respiratory nature, these factors seemed especially relevant to driving diverse local experiences. I chose to include a flyer from the Coconino County Health and Human Services' "Face It! Masks Save Lives" campaign. The flyer included a specific line to "Stay Home When Sick" that seemed to illustrate a different public health paradigm than the broader "stay home" orders from Maricopa and Pima county. This section also features an image of Sedona's red rocks and a portion of The Wave to remind visitors of the wide-open rural areas accessible to all, as well as those with cultural significance to the Native American tribes and limited access to the general public. The next section asks a short, five-question survey in which visitors may participate. The Silver Linings piece features a short audio clip of a father and husband discussing some unexpected benefits of the pandemic. Visitors may explore additional Silver Linings stories and submit their own experience. The Tséhootsooí Medical Center piece seeks to illustrate the different pandemic experience on the state's tribal lands. I hoped to inspire some relevant emotional turmoil for the visitors through the piece's visual presentation. I wanted to create a series of waves with quotes from the medical center's healthcare workers. I hoped visitors' attention would be drawn to the large, bolded key words, and that they would first experience the segments out of sequence because of that. After potentially feeling a sense of chaos, they might settle themselves into a deliberate reading of the texts and find their own order within the experiences provided here. This piece allows further exploration of Native submissions and topics, a review of an additional related news article, and a submission prompt that invites visitors to offer guidance to hospital managers. The next piece illustrates the differences between mask mandates in communities across Arizona. In addition to hearing an audio clip of interviews with mayors and a public health official, visitors can explore additional submissions related to mask mandates and submit their thoughts on statewide mandates. The Arizona Department of Health Services provides zip-code specific infection data on its website, and the wide array of known case infections therein further illustrates potential dichotomies across the state. In working to include and represent this data in a consumable way, I encountered inconsistencies with tribal data. The nation's Indian tribes are overseen by Indian Health Services, a federal public health agency, and it does not collect or report data in the same manner as the State of Arizona or its counties. At first glance, the data would seem to suggest that tribal areas had less severe pandemic experiences than the rural and urban areas, which was not objectively true. I wanted to offer the unedited data to visitors, allow them to drawn their own conclusions, and invite them to offer their thoughts on what potential misunderstandings might emanate from these reporting differences. Visitors may also choose to review the foundational data from this piece, as well. I used the following two sections to offer submission prompts about the visitor's overall pandemic experience as a function of their location, as well as what they might have done if placed in charge of their city, county, or state during this pandemic. A diverse Search section allows visitors to explore additional topics of interest to them. 23 hyperlinks offer pre-defined search parameters. An Advanced Search link allows self-defined research, and a Join The Staff link connects visitors with opportunities to work within the JOTPY archive. A final section asks visitors to provide feedback on the exhibit, its content, and the pandemic in general. Both surveys within the exhibit will display overall results to visitors who participate in them. Through this process, I found incredible amounts and diversity of data outside the archive that spoke to these generally localized experiences, but not that much yet within the archive explained what Arizonans had experienced outside the state's urban environments. I created a call for submissions and delivered it to fifty rural entities that might help support the effort to collect and preserve more rural Arizona stories. Between all the local libraries, historical societies, museums, small-town mayors, and county health officials to whom I asked for help, I am optimistic the archive will better represent all Arizonans in the coming months and years. Despite the exhibit having been created, I ensured its internal search features would include future submissions and allow the exhibit to remain relevant long after its release.

2021-04-20

Images and Audio from "Arizona's COVID-19 Pandemics" Exhibit

During March and April 2021, I created an online exhibit from content within Arizona State University's "A Journal of the Plague Year" COVID-19 archive. Entitled "Arizona's COVID-19 Pandemics," the digital exhibit contained images previously submitted to the archive, along with several copyright-free images I found on pexels.com. I have attached all these images. Listed by their order of appearance within the exhibit, their sources are as follows: 1- "Face It" Campaign flyer: Coconino County Health & Human Services ( https://covid-19archive.org/s/archive/item/42998 ) 2- Red Rocks, Sedona: Courtesy of Gregory Whitcoe via Pexels.com 3- Online Learning: Courtesy of August de Richelieu via Pexels.com 4- Tséhootsooí Medical Center staff: Courtesy of FDIHB Marketing Department and Navajo Times newspaper ( https://covid-19archive.org/s/archive/item/41189 ) 5- Arizona's Mask Mandate Map: created by Sarandon Raboin ( https://covid-19archive.org/s/archive/item/26267 ) 6- Arizona COVID-19 Infection Zip Code Map: Courtesy of Arizona Department of Health Services ( https://covid-19archive.org/s/archive/item/42035 ) 7- Woman Shopping: Courtesy of Anna Shvets via Pexels.com 8- Woman on Rural Arizona Road: Courtesy of Taryn Elliot via Pexels.com 9- Masked Woman in Crowd: Courtesy of Redrecords via Pexels.com 10- The Wave: Courtesy of Flickr via Pexels.com (this image is found only in the PDF submission of the exhibit, not in the public-facing exhibit itself due to document formatting technicalities - the PDF version can be found at https://covid-19archive.org/s/archive/item/42998 )

2021-04-20

Northern Arizona's Coconino County "Face It" Mask Campaign and Online Toolbox

The Coconino County Health & Human Services department created its "Face It" campaign in 2020 to promote the use of masks and face coverings in their communities. The following webpage is for the campaign's digital "toolbox" to give the public access to official signage for display to customers, the public, and employees to address mask use issues.

2021-03-21

#JOTPYFuture from chellenguyenwilson

Post vaccinations, I hope to be able to travel more this summer and escape the brutal AZ heat! 🔥🔥🔥 dreaming of a day where I can eat inside restaurants with friends and family! Looking forward to volunteering more in the public, looking at ways to help out Azscend in the Chandler community #jotpyfuture

2021-04-19

Navajo Department of Health Data & Website

Despite recent data and statistical successes, the NDOH has left its 10pm to 5am curfew in place. The site offers a dashboard with current COVID-19 information, in terms of both resources and data.

2021-04-15

News Article: The Mother Road welcomes Route 66 Bike Week: Event aims to boost small businesses

By Travis Rains, Kingman Daily Miner, 15 April 2021 Communities and businesses along and near the Mother Road wanted in on the action that is Route 66 Bike Week – five days of activities, games, discounts, scenic biking and more set for April 21-25 along the historic highway from Needles, California to Seligman. Event organizer Rob Borden is no stranger to motorcycle rallies as the owner of Saddle Sore Ranch, located between mile markers 36 and 37 on Route 66, approximately 17 miles from Kingman. But this is the first year for Route 66 Bike Week, which has seen the expansion of what has been dubbed the “Laughlin Loop.” “It kind of started by accident,” Borden said, noting the loop includes Route 66, going through Oatman and down over highways 95 and 68. “It’s just a nice, scenic ride for motorcycle enthusiasts. With the Laughlin River Run not happening, at least not in the past two years, I got a call from Needles, California from their tourism center asking if they could be included in this Laughlin Loop and I said ‘absolutely.’” Borden then received a call from the chamber of commerce in Oatman seeking to be included in the event. Then the City of Kingman and its visitor’s center wanted on board, followed by Seligman. “So then I’m looking at it and I’m like ‘wow, Needles to Seligman,’” Borden said. “I said ‘why don’t I just do a Route 66 Bike Week,’ and that’s how it happened. That way we can promote all these small businesses down Route 66 that even in normal times they struggle. Now with COVID, of course, they’ve been struggling even more.” So Borden began reaching out to businesses along Route 66 to see if they would be interested in participating by way of deals and discounts for event participants. “They loved the idea and wanted to be a part of it,” he said. “Basically, the idea is rather than just have a stationary event that’s confined to some big parking lot, let’s kind of highlight these businesses up and down Route 66 and get them involved. They’ve put together special offers and discounts, maybe extra effort for bands for bars. Those are different stops on the rally.” Registration for bike week can be completed by going to http://route66bikeweek.com/, with prices ranging from $45 to $48 depending on the package chosen. Borden said there is associated costs for the event that include T-shirts, bike week wristbands and dissemination of the Route 66 Passport, the latter two providing participants with access to discounts from businesses and drawings for prizes, respectively. “So when you show up with your bike week wristband, you’ll get freebies and discounts,” Borden explained. “We’ve got about 20 free drawing stops.” A scavenger hunt is planned as well utilizing the Route 66 Passport. Borden said there will be five different stops along Route 66 at which participants can have their passports stamped. Upon getting all the stamps and presenting them at Rally Central, which is Saddle Sore Ranch, they will receive a free ticket for yet another drawing. Borden also said those wishing to cruise Route 66 during bike week don’t have to register, but that they will not receive access to discounts and more. “The intent there is obviously to bring exposure to Route 66 and all these businesses, and make a big financial impact right here to the area as opposed to some of the big corporate vendors that would come into big motorcycle events,” Borden said. “When they leave, they take the money with them.” Saddle Sore Ranch will play host to biker games and activities throughout Route 66 Bike Week. Those will include poker runs, live music and popular biker contests like a big belly contest. Biker games such as slow races, barrel races, lean-your-bike and more are scheduled as well, as is a blue collar build-off judging and awards ceremony sponsored in part by Cycle Source Magazine. The build-off is a low-budget motorcycle building competition where teams from all over the country had $1,500 and 30 days to build a bike. After the sun goes down, live music will continue, vendors will open up shop and a campfire party will commence. “It’s a lot different than what people are used to with previous motorcycle rallies in the area,” Borden said of Saddle Sore Ranch. “Our venue is more reminiscent of a ‘60s or ‘70s style, easy rider rodeo kind of venue. It’s more of a traditional, old-school biker venue as opposed to the neon lights and things like that of Laughlin. It’s a completely different kind of feel and a breath of fresh air for bikers in the area to give them something to do and something different.” Route 66 Bike Week starts at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 21 and runs until 10 p.m. Sunday, April 25. For more information on Route 66 Bike Week, go to http://route66bikeweek.com/.

2021-04-19

News Article: Navajo Nation reports no COVID-19 deaths for 8th day

By Associated Press, 19 April 2021 WINDOW ROCK (AP) — The Navajo Nation is finding no new COVID-19 related deaths for an eighth consecutive day. The tribe on Sunday afternoon reported seven new virus cases but no additional deaths on the vast reservation. The latest numbers bring the Navajo Nation's pandemic case total to 30,366 with the death toll remaining at 1,262. Tribal officials said 16,477 people have recovered from COVID-19 thus far. The tribe had been easing into reopening but that slowed somewhat after coronavirus variants were confirmed on the reservation, which stretches into New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. Tribal officials urged residents to stay vigilant. Navajo President Jonathan Nez said the tribe recently had a cluster of COVID-19 cases as a result of a family gathering where people were not wearing masks. Tribal public health orders mandate that masks be worn on the reservation and a daily curfew is in effect. Restaurants cannot have dine-in services. Navajo Nation roads also are closed to visitors and tourists, which doesn’t affect travel on state highways that run through the reservation. Meanwhile, health care facilities across the reservation continue to offer the vaccine by appointment or at drive-thru events.

2021-04-19

Mask trash #32

Blue and white disposable mask trash caught in the shrubs off to the side of Priest and near Rio Salado.

2020-04-30

Offline and left out: Not all Arizona students can connect for remote learning

This article focuses specifically on Arizona's efforts to provide students with internet/technology access in order to achieve online learning. It goes into detail about how several Phoenix schools dealt with the pandemic and online learning in the spring semester of 2020 as well as discusses how some students dealt with internet access issues in creative ways, either due to lack of internet or hotspot issues. Some examples are utilizing hotspots or through just going to public areas despite quarantine conditions to complete schoolwork.

2020-09-23

The power of Gen Z

Living in the pandemic, I have seen my generation grow stronger together as we stand for the injustices occurring in this country. We have spread our ideologies onto social media to spread the message of unity and social justice to prevent further innocent lives from being taken. No violent or oppressive remark goes unseen or unheard of given the word is quickly spread around with social media. Living in the pandemic has allowed the spread of such powerful messages of unity and standing up for what is right to reach every corner of the country. While eating at a local restaurant in Downtown Phoenix, a small yet powerfully loud crowd of BLM protesters passed the location. Watching in awe and feeling some sort of empowerment, it came to my realization of how much these young adults’ voices have spread across the country. Watching the traumatic stories regarding George Floyd and Breonna Taylor (among the thousands of black lives that have been taken by police and civilian brutality over the past couple of decades), I began to fear for the safety of the black communities living in areas that began to pose threats for them. Similarly, I have watched and supported the protests against Asian American violence becoming very recurrent lately and have seen young adults like me speak out against it. Although I am a minority myself, I cannot understand the pain these families go through, but I surely stand by and support these communities. Watching this protest before me made me realize how powerful the second-youngest generation (Gen Z) has grown to be and will continue to blossom as we continue to stand with unity against oppression let it be against race or religion. Although this pandemic has physically separated us, it has also brought many minority communities to come closer and support each other with the hope of one day ending these targeted tragedies.

2021-04

COVID conditions for the homeless

This is a news story about some of the solutions to homelessness that people are trying in Phoenix. The specific solution covered was tenting for homeless people as a way to provide more protection and layers during COVID. It's especially important that this was a solution done in Phoenix considering how hot it gets here. With tents being the main way to "help the homeless" during COVID it shows a continued general disregard for homeless people and their health and safety. The article goes on to discuss broader criticisms and issues people have taken with the COVID-19 response specifically for homeless populations. I wanted to include this source because it shows a general disregard for homeless populations especially in the face of a pandemic that they are the most vulnerable population for.

2020-10-16

School Finance Guidance for COVID-19

Arizona Department of Education fiscal information and guidance pertaining to attendance and absences while students participate in distance learning. The guidance page also includes links to important forms, school finance reports, and other valuable external resources. According to the report, the due date for a financial plan (Budget/AFR) is November 13, 2020. The name of the file is, "Distance Learning Report -Actual". No recent updates appear to have been made.

2020-10-16

Distance Learning Submission- FY2021

Arizona Department of Education authorizes distance learning with the passage of Executive Orders 2020-41, 2020-44, 2020-51. Students that are participating in online instruction "...shall be treated as pupils participating in Arizona Online Instruction for funding purposes." In this context, COVID-19 has impacted, on an economic level, the fabric of everyday life- down to gathering statistical data and reporting student attendance for online education for the purpose of funding virtual education, not brick-and-mortar institutions.

2021-03-22

#JOTPYPhoto from Tracey Kole

UV disinfection of escalator handrails at the PHX airport

2021-03-16

#JOTPYPhoto from Katy Kole de Peralta

PPE vending machines at the PHX airport

2021-04-15

Mask trash #31

Disposable mask found along the north bank of rio salado, near the 202 loop and Priest.

2021-04-13

My COVID-19 Investigations Experience

I work as a COVID-19 medical investigator for the Arizona county in which I live. The local COVID caseload continues to lessen here, but the local health department elected to extend our investigations and tracing contract through Jan 2022. I look forward to the day we have collectively worked this position into obsolescence. On the one hand, I’m grateful to know I don’t need to find new employment in the next 60 days, but I also worry about this particular use of taxpayer dollars. The reality is that we call on about 50-70 new cases per day at the current time. For a local population of about 1.5 million in this area, that's incredibly low. For our current team of about 20 agents, that takes an hour of dedicated dialing because few patients are answering their phones. During the surge last fall and winter, we had more than 3k cases per day just in this county, and we struggled to get through 200-300 cases per day as a team; most patients answered our calls, listened to our advice and guidance, and asked fearful questions about what to expect and how to keep their families and children safe. No longer. I think the public is excessively COVID-fatigued, and the reality for most people is NOT the horrific possibility that media coverage seems to have indicated as probable for everyone. The facts on the ground do not replicate those in the news, and I think most people have had COVID-19 or know (a lot) of people who have and survived with little more than a nuisance infection. The monster our societies were told to fear and expect didn’t come to fruition for most of the population, and few COVID patients with whom I speak feel uninformed, unprepared, or anxious about what lies ahead for them. Very few have concerns about protecting their families, at least that they express to me as a need for guidance, information, or uncertainty about their information or material needs or the future. All the social indicators seem to be that our local residents, at least, are ready to put this in the rearview and stop worrying about COVID. On the plus side, it has been very encouraging here to see that traffic is pretty much back to normal on the streets. Shops and businesses seem to be consistently busy. Despite all the resumed “normalcy,” our 14-day case count continues to generally decline. Given the “Arizona variant” that’s supposed to be haunting us, I’ll take that as positive evidence that vaccinations and natural antibodies seem effective against mutations and strains.

2021-04-14

News Article: Pima County (AZ) Vaccinations Approach 250K - FEMA Vaccination Pods

By: Valerie Cavazos - Posted at 12:50 AM, Apr 14, 2021 and last updated 12:51 AM, Apr 14, 2021 TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Pima County is now a step closer to FEMA setting up vaccination PODS and bringing in about a quarter million doses. The state first rejected FEMA's offer to run the PODS, criticizing Pima County on how it's operating its current vaccine locations. The state has now officially given the county the green light to allow the FEMA PODS, but with a long list of stipulations. "I don't think it's anything that prevents us from moving forward," said Supervisor Dr. Matt Heinz. He says the stipulations include "how the state is not involved in any way, the state registration system cannot be utilized, the county has to cover any and all costs, any moment the state can decide without cause and without notice that the agreement is null and void," he said. The state can also audit the funds used to create, implement, operate, and dismantle the site. Heinz told KGUN9 the county received the 4-page proposed Intergovernmental Agreement Tuesday afternoon. "I'm pleased that we're seeing progress, because now the county can now go over this the next 24 hours or so," Heinz said, "And hopefully, very likely, agree to these conditions which are largely ones we were expecting." Administrator Chuck Huckelberry wrote in a memo, "We are in the process of reviewing these requirements to determine their reasonableness and/or ability to comply."

2021-04-14

News Article: Daily COVID-19 Updates for AZ and Counties - 04/14/2021

Coronavirus in Arizona with Emphasis on local Pima County data: By: KGUN 9 On Your Side - Posted at 11:36 AM, Mar 21, 2020 and last updated 9:03 AM, Apr 14, 2021 TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Editor's note: This article was first published on March 21, 2020. It is updated daily and refreshed with the latest updates and cases throughout Arizona. Arizona Public Health officials are tracking the spread of coronavirus throughout the state. Here are the latest numbers provided by the Arizona Department of Health Services. Last updated on April 14, 2021 FULL SECTION: CORONAVIRUS IN ARIZONA Vaccinations in Arizona: New doses reported today: 46,744 Total doses administered: 4,213,938 Total number of people who have received at least 1 dose: 2,611,983 Total number of people who have received 2 doses: 1,745,928 Percent of population vaccinated: 36.3% Vaccinations in Pima County: New doses reported today: 9,029 Total doses administered: 578,853 Total number of people who have received at least 1 dose: 363,431 Total number of people who have received 2 doses: 242,638 Percent of population vaccinated: 34.8% Cases and Deaths through 04/14/2021: Number of deaths: 17,109 Number of cases: 851,265 New cases: 419 New deaths: 4 Total number of tests reported: 8,835,798 (Diagnostic and Serology) New tests reported: 17,381 Reported cases of COVID-19 by county: Maricopa: 529,471 Pima: 113,903 Pinal: 50,417 Navajo: 16,018 Coconino: 17,398 Yavapai: 18,642 Cochise: 11,769 Graham: 5,520 Santa Cruz: 7,882 Yuma: 36,943 Apache: 11,256 Mohave: 22,353 La Paz: 2,450 Gila: 6,855 Greenlee: 568 Breakdown of cases in Pima County: Total cases: 113,903 Deaths: 2,372 New cases: 81 New deaths: -1

2021-04-14

News Article: Navajo Nation reports no COVID-19 deaths for 3rd day in row

Despite very grim months through the last year's COVID-19 pandemic in the Navajo Nation, the Associated Press reported continuing indications of success for the Navajo people and their rural communities: WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Tuesday reported two new confirmed COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths for the third consecutive day. The latest numbers brought the pandemic totals on the tribe’s reservation to 30,269 cases and 1,262 known deaths. Tribal officials had ordered a lockdown last weekend over fears that a new variant could drive another deadly surge. The Stay-At-Home order required all Navajo Nation residents to refrain from unnecessary travel to help limit the spread of the virus, including a new and more contagious strain. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez recently announced the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 B.1.429 variant on the reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

2021-03-05

News Article: Gila County's COVID-19 efforts lead more urban counties

"By Christopher Brito, March 5, 2021, CBSnews.com While a majority of states and cities are still vaccinating higher priority groups of people, one county in Arizona is now allowing any resident over the age of 18 to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Gila County, which is located east of Phoenix, entered Phase 2 of their vaccine prioritization late last month, opening up eligibility to the general population. Part of the the decision to open vaccine eligibility is because Gila County has one of the lowest percentages of COVID-19 vaccine doses used in Arizona. Michael O'Driscoll, director of Public Health and Emergency Management for the county, told CBS affiliate KPHO-TV that they received permission from the state last week to offer the vaccine in a drive-thru clinic last weekend. "Prior to that, we were struggling to find enough people to make appointments to that, so the state gave me permission to offer it to any resident 18 and older," he said. About 56,000 people reside in the county. According to the Arizona's Department of Health Services, more than 13,000 people – or almost one fourth of residents – have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. "We did a survey before to get a sense of how many people in Gila County would consider getting the vaccine, and our survey came back about 50-60% of the residents would choose to get the vaccine if available," O'Driscoll said. Based on the data, over 5,600 people under the age of 65 have received the vaccine, including 73 people under the age of 20. One of the younger recipients, 18-year-old Jacob Jost, told KPHO-TV that he was "excited" to get the shot. "I have a little nephew, a little baby, so having the vaccine puts a peace of mind for that," Jost said. First published on March 5, 2021 / 12:13 PM © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Christopher Brito is a social media producer and trending writer for CBS News, focusing on sports and stories that involve issues of race and culture.

2021-03-22

Apache County (AZ) Library COVID-19 Guidelines after March 22, 2021

This copyright-free image of a public-facing government webpage displays the COVID-19 protocols in place at Apache County (AZ) library locations after Governor Doug Ducey ordered local governments to phase out public health mandates on March 22, 2021. Unlike urban areas within the state, rural Apache County in northeastern Arizona no longer required mask use inside private or government (public) buildings and facilities.

2021-04-13

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