Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from April 17-19
Apr 19, 2020, 6:30 PM
PHOENIX – Coronavirus cases in the state near 5,000, a Maricopa County doctor says Arizona will need to see multiple weeks of decreased cases before the state reopens and on state university is implementing furloughs amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Here are some stories that headlined the Arizona news cycle over the weekend.
Arizona coronavirus case total nears 5,000 with 184 deaths
The number of positive coronavirus tests in Arizona neared 5,000 with 184 deaths, the state health department reported Sunday morning.
The state’s totals now stand at 4,929 positive tests of the virus with 52,990 tests given, an increase of 210 positive cases and seven additional deaths in the past day.
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The number of cases in Maricopa County, the state’s most-populous and hardest-hit county, increased by 98 to 2,589 on Sunday.
Maricopa County health official says Arizona isn’t close to reopening
A Maricopa County health official said Friday that Arizona would need to see multiple weeks of decreased hospitalizations for her to feel comfortable about reopening the state.
“We just have to take our time so we don’t accidentally pull back too fast and see a rapid increase again,” Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, the county’s medical director for public health, told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Gaydos and Chad on Friday.
Sunenshine said the hospitalization trend in the county has been flat for almost a full week.
University of Arizona to furlough most of staff amid coronavirus outbreak
The University of Arizona will begin furloughing most of its staff in May due to the extreme financial crisis resulting from the coronavirus outbreak.
Those making more than $75,000 a year face the biggest impact of the furlough program, with a 15% reduction in pay due to the 39 furlough days required.
Higher paid staff, such as those earning more than $150,000 annually, will be placed in a pay reduction program and face a 17% to 20% decrease in pay.
Walgreens debuts its 1st Phoenix-area drive-thru coronavirus test site
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The first Walgreens drive-thru coronavirus test site in metro Phoenix was launched Friday in the West Valley.
The site is located in El Mirage, on the southeast corner of Dysart and Greenway roads.
To utilize the testing, area patients must first be approved through online screening and then schedule an appointment.
Arizona man donates his plasma after recovering from coronavirus
After testing positive for the coronavirus and recovering, 21-year-old Scottsdale resident Jack Schmittlein is helping others fight off the virus by donating convalescent plasma.
Schmittlein was Vitalant’s first donation of convalescent plasma on Wednesday.
Individuals who can donate convalescent plasma must have a prior diagnosis of coronavirus documented by a laboratory test, be symptom-free for at least 14 days and meet all current FDA requirements regarding plasma donation.
