Ducey draws attention as Arizona becomes the global “hot spot” for COVID-19

PHOENIX (AP) – As Arizona has seen steady increases in COVID-19 cases since last spring, Gov. Doug Ducey has frequently resisted calls for strong action. He refused to set up a state-wide masked mandate, allowed school districts to make their choices primarily, and allowed businesses to remain open.

All of these Republican governor elections are now gaining renewed control as the Grand Canyon state becomes what health officials call the last “hot spot in the world” because of the increasing number of cases.

“We have a governor and a health director who don’t care. Their goal, in my opinion, is to vaccinate their way out of this, “said Will Humble, head of the Arizona Public Health Association.” It will eventually work. In the meantime, there will be many dead people. “

CJ Karamargin, the governor’s spokesman, 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.

“Faced with strict mitigation measures in place and states that have few or no mitigation measures, they all face the same thing,” Karamargin said. “The mitigation measures that the state of Arizona has put in place early on remain in effect. We urge every Arizonan to follow them. “

At the same time, the state is working to intensify efforts to distribute vaccines, 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 after the US vaccination campaign, 5.3 million people had received the first dose.

Liz Curren, 34, of Phoenix, has been watching over her husband, Russell, 37, since she became infected with the virus more than a week ago. Her symptoms included severe body aches, chills and pain in her lungs and kidneys. The couple and four other relatives gathered at Christmas, but took all precautions as if they were wearing masks. However, Russell Curren and three others later turned out to be positive. Liz Curren gave negative results three times.

“I absolutely believe there are or should be more,” Liz Curren said, reflecting on the jump in cases. “Whatever is done does not work. I don’t feel that clubs, bars and gyms should be open. “

Meanwhile, the death toll from Arizona’s pandemic is now approaching 10,000. State health officials reported 297 new virus-related deaths on Thursday. Most of them have been attributed to recent reviews of past death certificates.

Also, the state registered on Thursday 9,913 cases recently confirmed by COVID-19, bringing the total so far to 584,593.

Arizona has the lowest coronavirus diagnosis rate in the country, with 1 in 119 people in the state giving positive results in the last week, health officials said.

Just five months ago, President Donald Trump hailed Arizona as a model of how he treated the COVID-19 pandemic. After the residence order at the beginning of the pandemic was gradually lifted, the Republican governor refused to reinstate restrictions such as neighboring California, which is also seeing an increase in the number of infections and overcrowded hospitals. In Arizona, indoor dining is allowed, and gyms are open at limited capacity, businesses that have been more restricted in many other states.

Ducey rejected calls from health care leaders to tighten restrictions, saying it would cause people to lose their jobs. He also rejected a proposal for all public schools to go to e-learning for two weeks after the holidays.

The live-and-let-live approach probably worked for several months, as cases remained high, but easier to manage compared to the summer situation. In recent days, the numbers have increased.

“It is much worse than July already and will continue to get worse. We’re probably two weeks behind LA in terms of our situation, “Humble said, referring to Los Angeles County, where a COVID-19 increase created a lack of oxygen and led ambulance crews to stop. transport of patients in which they cannot revive.

Dr. Joshua LaBaer, ​​director of the research center at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, called the state “the hot spot of the world right now.” He believes that at least one in 10 people actually has the virus.

“That means if you’re at the supermarket, there are people around you who have it, but they may not know it yet,” LaBaer said. “It’s not a time when I would recommend people to spend time indoors with people who are not their immediate family.”

The state will also “no doubt” have more deaths than usual for the winter months, LaBaer said. In addition to COVID-19 deaths, people with other illnesses who are reluctant to go to the hospital are at risk.

A record 4,920 patients with COVID-19 have been hospitalized since Wednesday, according to the state coronavirus dashboard.

Dr. Marjorie Bessel, clinical director of Banner Health, the state’s largest hospital chain, said the uncontrollable spread of the virus could be curtailed if the government imposed mask requirements, banned indoor dining and canceled large gatherings. Also, people should wear masks and limit their contact only to those they live with.

“We are not doing a good job with this virus,” Bessel said of the state. “At this time during the growing pandemic, we need additional mitigation. We need the implementation of these mitigation activities and we need everyone to do their part. “

Dr. Michael White, clinical director of Valleywise Health in Arizona, said the Phoenix health care system has no intensive care beds available. Some patients waiting for beds were treated in pieces in the emergency department.

“I haven’t seen anything like this in all the years I’ve been in health care,” White said.

More mitigation efforts in early December would likely have helped the emergency hospitals I see now, he added.

The number of virus cases has risen sharply since Arizona bars, nightclubs and restaurants were allowed to reopen completely in September. But the trips and people gathering for the holidays, starting with Thanksgiving, were “gasoline that went on fire,” Humble said.