9:14 PM, Jul 02, 2020PHOENIX — An internal memo from Banner Health details how the state of Arizona, activating its crisis care plan, is the first time any state has done this in the U.S.The memo sent to ABC15 states that Banner, along with other health care networks requested the state to activate the Crisis Standards of Care Plan.“As such, earlier this week at the request of Banner and other health care systems, the Arizona Department of Health Services activated the Arizona Crisis Standards of Care Plan (CSC) at the Crisis level, for the first time in the state’s history and...…9:14 PM, Jul 02, 2020PHOENIX — An internal memo from Banner Health details how the state of Arizona, activating its crisis care plan, is the first time any state has done this in the U.S.The memo sent to ABC15 states that Banner, along with other health care networks requested the state to activate the Crisis Standards of Care Plan.“As such, earlier this week at the request of Banner and other health care systems, the Arizona Department of Health Services activated the Arizona Crisis Standards of Care Plan (CSC) at the Crisis level, for the first time in the state’s history and...WW…

Arizona cities are currently scrambling to put mask requirements and enforcement in place, with record numbers of positive tests and deaths, and with stresses on the healthcare system building.9:23 PM, Jun 19, 2020President Trump will campaign in Phoenix on Tuesday, stepping into one of the nation’s hottest spots for COVID-19. The President’s arrival is significant because, since his last visit, in which he praised Governor Doug Ducey for his handling of the crisis, positive cases and deaths are spiking with no end in sight.Arizona cities are currently scrambling to put mask requirements...…Arizona cities are currently scrambling to put mask requirements and enforcement in place, with record numbers of positive tests and deaths, and with stresses on the healthcare system building.9:23 PM, Jun 19, 2020President Trump will campaign in Phoenix on Tuesday, stepping into one of the nation’s hottest spots for COVID-19. The President’s arrival is significant because, since his last visit, in which he praised Governor Doug Ducey for his handling of the crisis, positive cases and deaths are spiking with no end in sight.Arizona cities are currently scrambling to put mask requirements...WW…

Model predicts how many cases and deaths Arizona could see.4:48 PM, May 26, 2020Weeks after learning there is a federal Arizona-specific model, Arizona’s top public health official released the model in an online blog post on Tuesday.Dr. Cara Christ posting in a blog post, that FEMA has authorized them to share the models publicly. The report release May 7 has a number of graphs and data charts that are specific to Arizona. Christ wrote in the blog, “ predicted our peak resource utilization to occur around June 11, assuming our mitigation strategies were lifted at the end of the current on...…Model predicts how many cases and deaths Arizona could see.4:48 PM, May 26, 2020Weeks after learning there is a federal Arizona-specific model, Arizona’s top public health official released the model in an online blog post on Tuesday.Dr. Cara Christ posting in a blog post, that FEMA has authorized them to share the models publicly. The report release May 7 has a number of graphs and data charts that are specific to Arizona. Christ wrote in the blog, “ predicted our peak resource utilization to occur around June 11, assuming our mitigation strategies were lifted at the end of the current on...WW…

Lack of information in Spanish for minority communities.8:26 PM, Jul 21, 2020PHOENIX — Arizona now has the ability to do 5,000 tests a day through its free surge testing, but where are the people?It took four days for Arizona to reach 5,000 tests despite the state saying they could test 5,000 people a day.On Monday, Arizona reported 5,537 tests since the surge sites started last Friday.In a press release on Tuesday, the Arizona Department of Health Services said that there are thousands of free COVID-19 tests still available.“The free testing offered at our surge testing sites is...…Lack of information in Spanish for minority communities.8:26 PM, Jul 21, 2020PHOENIX — Arizona now has the ability to do 5,000 tests a day through its free surge testing, but where are the people?It took four days for Arizona to reach 5,000 tests despite the state saying they could test 5,000 people a day.On Monday, Arizona reported 5,537 tests since the surge sites started last Friday.In a press release on Tuesday, the Arizona Department of Health Services said that there are thousands of free COVID-19 tests still available.“The free testing offered at our surge testing sites is...WW…

Frustrated Arizonans trying to get unemployment say they’re ‘just a number’ in the system.8:50 PM, Aug 12, 2020Frustrated Arizonans trying to get state unemployment benefits tell ABC15 they’re just a number in a system that is still difficult to access. Now they’re learning that while they wait for money owed them by the state, the person who once ran the benefits system has cashed in on a salary approaching six figures.On Wednesday, azcentral.com reported the man first in charge of the state’s unemployment system, Tom Betlach, Arizona Republic Reporter Craig Harris writing, “Betlach's...…Frustrated Arizonans trying to get unemployment say they’re ‘just a number’ in the system.8:50 PM, Aug 12, 2020Frustrated Arizonans trying to get state unemployment benefits tell ABC15 they’re just a number in a system that is still difficult to access. Now they’re learning that while they wait for money owed them by the state, the person who once ran the benefits system has cashed in on a salary approaching six figures.On Wednesday, azcentral.com reported the man first in charge of the state’s unemployment system, Tom Betlach, Arizona Republic Reporter Craig Harris writing, “Betlach's...WW…

Will struggling Arizonans get a lifeline for unemployment?11:39 AM, Aug 13, 2020PHOENIX — Governor Doug Ducey will not hold a formal COVID-19 briefing this week citing feedback about the format. Ducey has taken questions for weeks in 90-minute news conferences, using the format to update Arizonans on the response to COVID-19.Watch today's earlier event with Gov. Ducey and state health officials in the player below.A spokesperson for the governor’s office speaking on background said the change came after “feedback from both sides” that the briefings have become too long and go too...…Will struggling Arizonans get a lifeline for unemployment?11:39 AM, Aug 13, 2020PHOENIX — Governor Doug Ducey will not hold a formal COVID-19 briefing this week citing feedback about the format. Ducey has taken questions for weeks in 90-minute news conferences, using the format to update Arizonans on the response to COVID-19.Watch today's earlier event with Gov. Ducey and state health officials in the player below.A spokesperson for the governor’s office speaking on background said the change came after “feedback from both sides” that the briefings have become too long and go too...WW…

Frontline workers are testing positive for COVID-19. The Phoenix Police Department says 140 workers have tested positive, and 77 in the Phoenix Fire Department.3:51 PM, Jul 07, 2020PHOENIX — A growing sense of urgency not just in Arizona hospitals, but for the country’s fifth largest fire department as nearly 50% of service calls at Phoenix's busiest fire station in the past 24 hours are suspected COVID-19 or COVID-19 positive cases.ABC15 reached out to the City of Phoenix for the latest numbers of COVID-19 cases impacting first responders and found that 77 in Phoenix Fire...…Frontline workers are testing positive for COVID-19. The Phoenix Police Department says 140 workers have tested positive, and 77 in the Phoenix Fire Department.3:51 PM, Jul 07, 2020PHOENIX — A growing sense of urgency not just in Arizona hospitals, but for the country’s fifth largest fire department as nearly 50% of service calls at Phoenix's busiest fire station in the past 24 hours are suspected COVID-19 or COVID-19 positive cases.ABC15 reached out to the City of Phoenix for the latest numbers of COVID-19 cases impacting first responders and found that 77 in Phoenix Fire...WW…

A Mesa wrestler has set aside competition to help bring joy to another wrestler, who has special needs, by taking part in an unplanned varsity match.2:25 PM, Mar 08, 2021A Mesa wrestler has set aside competition to help bring joy to another wrestler, who has special needs, by taking part in an unplanned varsity match.JB Erb, a sophomore at Dobson High School did not have a match at a competition last week after there was no one in his weight class, but the opposing team had a wrestler waiting for his chance.Coach Jake Allen, of Dobson High School, tells ABC15 that their team was approached...…A Mesa wrestler has set aside competition to help bring joy to another wrestler, who has special needs, by taking part in an unplanned varsity match.2:25 PM, Mar 08, 2021A Mesa wrestler has set aside competition to help bring joy to another wrestler, who has special needs, by taking part in an unplanned varsity match.JB Erb, a sophomore at Dobson High School did not have a match at a competition last week after there was no one in his weight class, but the opposing team had a wrestler waiting for his chance.Coach Jake Allen, of Dobson High School, tells ABC15 that their team was approached...WW…

A man has spent time during COVID donating and delivering firewood to Navajo Nation residents.3:22 PM, Mar 04, 2021For the past five months, a New Mexico man has been delivering tons of free firewood to people living throughout Navajo Nation.Zoel Zohnnie was raised in Tuba City, Arizona and has founded a new organization that has been driving truckloads of firewood since October to 24 Navajo Nation communities.Zohnnie started the Sasquatch Fellowship where they have delivered over 120 tons of firewood since the Fall.Navajo Nation has been hit hard during the pandemic, making it harder to...…A man has spent time during COVID donating and delivering firewood to Navajo Nation residents.3:22 PM, Mar 04, 2021For the past five months, a New Mexico man has been delivering tons of free firewood to people living throughout Navajo Nation.Zoel Zohnnie was raised in Tuba City, Arizona and has founded a new organization that has been driving truckloads of firewood since October to 24 Navajo Nation communities.Zohnnie started the Sasquatch Fellowship where they have delivered over 120 tons of firewood since the Fall.Navajo Nation has been hit hard during the pandemic, making it harder to...WW…

ABC15 has obtained new Arizona COVID-19 data models that project packed intensive care units in the state’s hospitals in December. The Arizona modeling team also says without additional mitigation, holiday gatherings could lead to up to 1,200 more COVID deaths by February.6:52 PM, Nov 19, 2020PHOENIX — ABC15 has obtained new Arizona COVID-19 data models that project packed intensive care units (ICUs) in the state’s hospitals in December. The models estimate Arizona will likely surpass the July peak of ICU occupancy as soon as December 18, the numbers driven by the year-end...…ABC15 has obtained new Arizona COVID-19 data models that project packed intensive care units in the state’s hospitals in December. The Arizona modeling team also says without additional mitigation, holiday gatherings could lead to up to 1,200 more COVID deaths by February.6:52 PM, Nov 19, 2020PHOENIX — ABC15 has obtained new Arizona COVID-19 data models that project packed intensive care units (ICUs) in the state’s hospitals in December. The models estimate Arizona will likely surpass the July peak of ICU occupancy as soon as December 18, the numbers driven by the year-end...WW…