Arizona COVID-19 cumulative counts, Dec. 14
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Select regional and national coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic as of Wednesday, May 13. For more coverage, visit our resource page.
AZ Supreme Court says no to electronic signature gathering for citizen petitions
AZPM, May 13
In a 6-1 ruling, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that citizen petitions cannot use E-Qual, the system that allows legislative and other candidates to gather ballot qualification signatures electronically.
The justices did not explain their reasoning, instead saying they will issue an opinion at a later date.
The case was brought by a number of citizen initiatives that wanted to use the system since the coronavirus pandemic has made gathering petition signatures difficult.
Work from home ending for many county employees
AZPM, May 13
Gov. Doug Ducey this week suggested that employers still consider letting their employees work from home, even after his stay-at-home order is lifted on Friday. But Pima County is taking the opposite approach.
County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry says about 1,100 county workers have been doing their jobs from home since the pandemic began. Starting next week, most will be expected to show back up at the office unless they have a family member to care for, or a medical reason to stay home.
Expats ride out COVID-19 south of the border
Fronteras Desk, May 12
When the coronavirus hit, the State Department issued a global travel advisory, telling U.S. citizens abroad to come home or prepare to stay put indefinitely. And the U.S.-Mexico border shuttered to all nonessential travel.
Many U.S. citizens visiting or living in Mexico had a choice to make: Return home or stick it out in Sonora. Some chose to stay.
Grand Canyon will start to reopen Friday
Fronteras Desk, May 13
Grand Canyon National Park is beginning its first phase of reopening Friday.
The Grand Canyon is reopening seven viewpoints, four picnic areas, and certain restrooms on the South Rim. Park officials said visitors can stay for the day but should plan to bring food, water, and hand sanitizer. There will be no restaurants or overnight accommodations available.
Other areas will remain closed. Learn more here.
Davis-Monthan and local Air National Guard to do flyover Thursday
AZPM, May 13
The skies above Tucson and surrounding communities will be filled with local military aircraft Thursday afternoon.
Pilots from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and the 162nd Fighter Wing based at Tucson International Airport will perform a flyover of area hospitals and police and fire stations to thank the medical community and first responders for their work during the pandemic.
See a map of the flyover here.
Arizona death toll from coronavirus outbreak nears 600
AP, May 13
PHOENIX (AP) — State officials report that Arizona’s death roll from the coronavirus outbreak is nearing 600 with an additional 32 deaths reported statewide.
The Department of Health Services reported 594 deaths as of Wednesday with 12,176 positive cases, up 440 from Tuesday. Gov. Doug Ducey said Tuesday he’ll let gyms and public swimming pools reopen and will allow his stay-at-home order to expire Friday as he continues easing restrictions imposed to slow the outbreak.
Ducey said lifting his stay-home order is safe because of a declining rate of cases. He also cited sufficient hospital capacity and growing abilities to test people and trace their contacts.
Trump ramps up expulsions of migrant youth, citing virus
AP, May 13
HOUSTON (AP) — U.S. border agencies quickly expelled 600 child migrants in April after federal agencies began prohibiting asylum claims at the southern border, citing the coronavirus pandemic. Many are from Central America and traveling alone, with some as young as 10 years old.
Border agencies say the deportations are necessary to contain the contagion. Migrants’ advocates call that a pretext to dispense with federal protections for kids. The expulsions are the latest Trump administration measure aimed at preventing the entry of migrant children, following other programs such as the since-rescinded “zero tolerance” policy that resulted in thousands of family separations.
Virus spikes could emerge weeks after US economic reopenings
AP, May 13
While U.S. states are beginning to restart their economies after months of paralyzing coronavirus lockdowns, it could take weeks until it becomes clear whether those reopenings will cause a spike in COVID-19 cases.
The outbreak’s trajectory varies wildly across the country, with steep increases in cases in some places, decreases in others and infection rates that can shift dramatically from neighborhood to neighborhood. A handful of states started easing their lockdowns about two weeks ago, with reopenings that now range from shopping malls in Texas to beach hotels in South Carolina and gyms in Wyoming. But scientists warn it could be weeks more until they know the health effects.
Navajo Nation extends emergency declaration until June 7
AP, May 12
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has extended an executive order declaring a state of emergency and government closures to June 7 in an attempt to minimize the spread of the coronavirus.
A stay-at-home order for residents on the vast reservation also remains in place. Tribal President Jonathan Nez announced the third extension of the executive order during an online town hall Tuesday. The current emergency declaration that closes government offices and non-essential programs was set to expire May 17.
The tribe first implemented its order declaring a state of emergency and closing some government operations on March 13. It was extended March 31 and then a second time on April 21. The Navajo Nation covers part of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
Federal Data Shows Big Border Crossing Drops In March
Fronteras Desk, May 12
Pedestrian and personal vehicle crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border have fallen sharply since restrictions to slow coronavirus spread were put in place.
Compared to March 2019, northbound pedestrian crossings fell by 34% and vehicle crossings were down 24% this March, according to recently released federal data analyzed by KJZZ. Commercial truck crossings fell a much more modest 0.6%. Restrictions on nonessential cross-border travel, which exempt trade and were negotiated by the U.S. and Mexico, took effect in late March.
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