Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey arrives at a news conference to talk about the latest Arizona COVID-19 news on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, in Phoenix. (Photo by AP / Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX (AP) – As Arizona has experienced periodic rises in COVID-19 cases since last spring, Gov. Doug Ducey has often resisted calls for strong action. He has refused to establish a state mask mandate, allowed school districts to make the majority of decisions, and allowed companies to stay open.
All of these Republican governor decisions receive renewed control as the Grand Canyon state becomes what health officials call the last “hot spot in the world” because of the rise in cases.
“We have a governor and a health director who don’t care. In my opinion, their goal is to get vaccinated, “said Will Humble, head of the Arizona Public Health Association.” It will finally work. In the meantime, many people will be killed. “
CJ Karamargin, a spokesman for the governor, said the current number of cases and deaths are “heartbreaking”, but it is a phenomenon that happens in other states, even with strict orders to stay at home.
“In the face of strict mitigation measures and states that have few or minimal mitigation measures, they all suffer the same,” Karamargin said. “The mitigation measures that the state of Arizona put in place very soon: they are still in place. We urge all Arizona people to follow them.”
At the same time, the state is working to increase vaccine distribution efforts, Karamargin added. More than 119,000 people in Arizona have received the vaccine, state health officials said Wednesday. That is, it is less than 2% of the state’s population. Nationwide, as of Wednesday, more than three weeks into the U.S. vaccination campaign, 5.3 million people had received the first dose.
Liz Curren, 34, of Phoenix, has been caring for her husband, Russell, 37, since she became infected with the virus more than a week ago. Her symptoms have included severe body aches, chills and pain in her lungs and kidneys. The couple and four other relatives got together for Christmas, but took every precaution such as wearing masks. Still, Russell Curren and three others ended up testing positive later. Liz Curren has been negative three times.
“I absolutely think there’s more or should be more,” Liz Curren said, reflecting on the jump in cases. “What is done does not work. I don’t think clubs, bars and gyms are open. “
Meanwhile, the death toll in Arizona from the pandemic is now approaching 10,000. State health officials on Thursday reported 297 new deaths related to the virus. Most of them were attributed to recent revisions of past death certificates.
The state also counted 9,913 recently confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total to date to 584,593.
Arizona has the worst coronavirus diagnosis rate in the country, with 1 in 119 people in the state testing positive last week, health officials said.
Just five months ago, President Donald Trump hailed Arizona as a model for how he handled the COVID-19 pandemic. After a stay-at-home order was gradually withdrawn early in the pandemic, the Republican governor declined to reinstate restrictions such as neighboring California, which is also experiencing an increase in infections and overflowing hospitals. In Arizona, indoor dining and limited-capacity open gyms are allowed, companies that have been more restricted to many other states.
Ducey has rejected calls from health leaders to tighten restrictions, arguing it would cause people to be out of work. He also rejected a proposal for all public schools to go to e-learning for two weeks after the holidays.
It could be said that the life and life approach worked for a few months, as the cases remained high but more manageable compared to the summer situation. In recent days, the numbers have skyrocketed.
“It is much worse than in July and will continue to get worse. We’re probably two weeks away from LA in terms of our situation, ”Humble said, referring to Los Angeles County, where a wave of COVID-19 created a lack of oxygen and drove ambulance crews. to stop transporting patients to whom they cannot revive.the field.
Dr. Joshua LaBaer, director of the research center at Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute, called the state “the most important point in the world right now.” He believes at least one in ten people has the virus.
“That means if you’re at the grocery store, there are people around you who have it but may not know it yet,” LaBaer said. “It’s not a time when I would recommend that people spend time indoors with people who are not their closest family.”
The state will also “certainly” record more deaths than usual during the winter months, LaBaer said. Aside from COVID-19-related deaths, people with other illnesses who hesitate to go to the hospital are at risk.
According to the state coronavirus scorecard, a record 4,920 COVID-19 patients had been in hospital beds since Wednesday.
Dr. Marjorie Bessel, clinical director of Banner Health, the state’s largest hospital chain, said the uncontrollable spread of the virus could be reduced if the government meets mask requirements, bans indoor dining and cancels large meetings. People should also wear masks and limit their contact only to those with whom they live.
“We’re not doing a good job with this virus,” Bessel said of the state. “At this time of the rising pandemic, we need additional mitigation. We need the implementation of these mitigation activities and we need everyone to do their part.”
Dr. Michael White, chief clinician at Valleywise Health in Arizona, said the Phoenix-based health system has no intensive care beds available. Some patients waiting for beds were being treated with gornella in the emergency department.
“I’ve never seen anything like it in all the years I’ve been in health care,” White said.
He added that more mitigation efforts in early December would probably have helped the waves the hospitals are experiencing now.
Virus case numbers have been on the rise since the full reopening of Arizona bars, nightclubs and restaurants was allowed in September. But the trips and people gathering for the holidays, starting with Thanksgiving, were “gasoline that caught fire,” Humble said.