Weekend wrap-up: Here are Arizona’s biggest stories from June 26-28
Jun 28, 2020, 7:00 PM
(AP Photo/Charles Atiki Lomodong)
(AP Photo/Charles Atiki Lomodong)
PHOENIX — Positive coronavirus cases continue to soar in the state, the Scottsdale Police Department makes eight more arrests linked to the Scottsdale Fashion Square looting and several metro Phoenix hospitals scramble to make room for patients amid the pandemic.
Here are some of the stories that headlined the Arizona news cycle over the weekend.
Arizona reports 3,858 new coronavirus cases, 9 more deaths
The Arizona health department reported 3,858 new coronavirus cases and 9 additional deaths Sunday morning.
That brought the state’s documented totals to 73,908 COVID-19 cases and 1,588 deaths.
It marks the most coronavirus cases reported in a single day in the state, breaking Saturday’s mark of 3,591. It is also the seventh time in the last 10 days that daily cases surpassed the 3,000 mark.
Scottsdale PD arrests 8 more suspects linked to Fashion Square looting
Scottsdale police arrested eight more suspects linked to the looting at Scottsdale Fashion Square last month, the department announced Friday.
That brings the total to 44 charged with crimes related to the violence that erupted at the mall on May 30.
The suspects, all Valley residents, were identified through video and physical evidence at the scene.
Of the eight arrested, three were minors.
Metro Phoenix hospitals scramble to make room as coronavirus cases surge
Several metro Phoenix hospitals are scrambling to make room for patients as the number of coronavirus cases in Arizona surges.
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Banner Health confirmed Friday that Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa has activated its surge plan, as have other facilities in the state’s largest hospital system.
The Banner Desert surge plan includes moving patients without COVID-19 to Cardon Children’s Hospital.
One of the floors at Cardon Children’s, which shares a campus with Banner Desert near Dobson Road and Southern Avenue, will convert into an adult ICU to increase adult ICU capacity.
Trump rally church in Phoenix warned about deceptive air filter claims
Arizona officials have warned the Phoenix church that hosted President Donald Trump’s rally and a Glendale company about making deceptive claims regarding air filtration systems and COVID-19.
The state Attorney General’s Office sent Dream City Pastor Luke Barnett a letter Thursday demanding that the church remove any remaining statements regarding the CleanAir EXP system’s effectiveness against COVID-19 under the threat of consumer fraud litigation.
Another letter told Glendale-based CleanAir EXP to stop suggesting it can neutralize COVID-19 in apparent violation of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act. Violators of the act can be fined up to $10,000 per incident and ordered to pay restitution to customers and reimburse the state for legal costs.
Both letters say the AG’s office isn’t aware of any existing scientific research or public health authority indicating that any air treatment products can prevent COVID-19 infections.
California woman dies while hiking at Grand Canyon National Park
A California woman died on Wednesday while hiking at Grand Canyon National Park, according to park officials.
The incident occurred about half a mile above the Tip Off Resthouse on the South Kaibab Trail just after 5:30 p.m.
According to park officials, 49-year-old Catherine Houe of Daly City, California, was hiking into the canyon to stay overnight at Phantom Ranch.
But after 4 miles of hiking down the South Kaibab Trail, Houe became dizzy, disoriented and then stopped breathing, according to park officials.
Authorities said the cause of death is believed to be heat-related, as the temperature at Phantom Ranch was approximately 114 degrees on Wednesday.
