Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from Aug. 21-23

PHOENIX – Coronavirus cases in Arizona continue to fall, a military base in northern Arizona could be used for economic development projects and the state sees a 20% rise in deaths over the first seven months of the year.

Here are some stories that headlined the Arizona news cycle over the weekend.

Arizona reports 207 new coronavirus cases, 15 more deaths

Arizona health authorities reported 207 new coronavirus cases and 15 more deaths on Sunday morning.

That put the state’s documented totals at 198,103 COVID-19 infections and 4,771 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Multiple key metrics about the severity of Arizona’s pandemic, including coronavirus-related hospitalizations, are at or near the lowest they’ve been in a month or more.

Northern Arizona military site eyed for economic development

A low-profile military base first established during World War II is being eyed as a potential site for future economic development projects in northern Arizona.

Pending legislation in Congress would allow the U.S. Army to transfer about 4.7 square miles (12 square kilometers) of land at Camp Navajo to the state Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, the Arizona Daily Sun reported.

The sprawling installation at Bellemont about 11 miles (16 kilometers) west of Flagstaff is currently used and run by the Arizona National Guard, which is part of the state Department of Emergency and Military Affairs.

Arizona sees 20% rise in deaths, not all directly from coronavirus

Arizona has seen a 20% increase in deaths in the first seven months of this year — and not all of them have been directly linked to the coronavirus.

Public health experts say it will take months to determine what’s driving the death rate. Possible explanations include overdoses and suicides by people struggling with isolation or unemployment during the pandemic; patients succumbing to chronic diseases after postponing hospital visits due to fears about contracting the virus there; and deaths from Arizona’s tough regular flu season, which ran from October to April.

The Arizona Department of Health Services said it has gotten informal reports about increases in 911 calls that may suggest people are delaying essential medical care during the pandemic. It also noted that overdose deaths are increasing and some communities have reported slight jumps in suicides.

Mountainside Fitness to reopen next week despite no state approval

Mountainside Fitness said Friday it will reopen its almost 20 metro Phoenix locations this week despite not yet having received approval from the state.

The fitness center, which has been embroiled in a legal battle with the state for weeks over its right to conduct business during the coronavirus pandemic, posted a message to members stating its intentions to reopen at some point during the week.

On Sunday, the club announced Aug. 24 would be used as a return and training day for employees and the gym would announce by Tuesday an exact day and time for guests to return.

Arizona clears 90,000 unemployment claims flagged for fraud by DES

About 90,000 Arizona unemployment claims that were held up because of suspected fraud have been approved, authorities said Friday.

The state Department of Economic Security said it flagged more than 1 million Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims as potentially fraudulent.

The department has been working with data analytics companies, financial institutions and government partners to review the claims.

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