June's Tucson-area coronavirus coverage: Bars, gyms face shutdowns; Tucsonans worried telemedicine might disappear
Here's a look at June stories surrounding local coronavirus coverage. This collection will continue to be updated. To see stories from May, click here.
See day-to-day brief updates, such as closures and other changes, here.
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The Wildcats started voluntary workouts June 15, with a goal of having the entire football team on campus by July 6. But the schedule was put on hold Monday amid the surge in the state's coronavirus cases and Gov. Doug Ducey's new emergency order.
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Arts Express has had to come up with different online efforts to keep its arts programs going during the coronavirus pandemic.
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With Arizona's rate of COVID-19 infection still rising many Tucson residents are wondering how long insurance providers will keep covering telephone and online medical visits.
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A faculty group says its alternative furlough plan would save the UA at least $87 million and hit more employees at the high end of the school's salary scale.
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More than 1.1 million people in Arizona are hard of hearing, and more than 20,000 are deaf, according to the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
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Several Scottsdale bars and restaurants labeled “bad actors” by Gov. Doug Ducey have shut down temporarily, and they’re pushing back on his allegations they disregarded safety protocols meant to curb the spread of COVID-19.
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Pima County officials are frustrated by calls they’re getting about certain businesses not following the rules laid out in the mask-wearing ordinance, said chief medical officer Dr. Francisco Garcia.
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Both restaurants closed their dining rooms and returned to takeout only after seeing the state's coronavirus cases quadruple since Gov. Doug Ducey ended his stat-at-home order in mid-May.
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Owner, alarmed over the state's nearly quadrupled coronavirus cases, says his employees and customers are his priority.
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University of Arizona faculty and staff continue to express concern about a furlough plan that is set to start July 1.
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Ducey defended President Trump's recent rally of mostly unmasked supporters and Vice President Mike Pence's planned visit to Tucson — even as he said the only way Arizona will stop the upward trend of COVID-19 cases is if people mask up and stay home.
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Pima County says it is working on changes to better assist tenants and property owners, but for now there's a backlog and millions in aid has not been distributed.
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All of Pima County’s hospitals and medical centers are now using the state’s health-care emergency hotline to take in or move those seriously or critically ill with COVID-19.
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Fireworks aren't the only thing to look forward to for the long Fourth of July Weekend. Go-karting, catching a flick, museum-hopping and indoor playgrounds are among the options
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Arizona's liquor-license regulators have begun enforcement actions against bars that don't require employees and patrons to take safety measures to prevent or slow COVID-19 spread, Gov. Doug Ducey said Thursday. Ducey said Arizona is being hit hard by the coronavirus, but he isn't issuing any new executive orders because his plan is public education and the urging of personal responsibility. He was pressed to explain why President Trump's Phoenix rally Tuesday was allowed to have a crowd of unmasked, shoulder-to-shoulder attendees.
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The Tucson Unified School District is not currently considering a hybrid schedule, where students go to school some days and learn online on others.
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New Jersey and Connecticut also will require a 14-day quarantine for visitors arriving from states like Arizona with "significant community spread."
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The plan announced Wednesday by Gov. Doug Ducey includes $200 million from the federal CARES Act to protect schools against budget shortfalls due to expected enrollment declines caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
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The three-year renovation project won't be finished until the fall, but with a shortage of classical music concerts because of the coronavirus pandemic, the church is giving the community a gift on Sunday.
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Close to $8,500 has been raised toward a goal of $20,000 for the Theater Artists Emergency Fund, sponsored by the Star and the Arts Foundation…
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The student was tested June 15 after being exposed to a person with the coronavirus while spending a week back home, the notice from the UA's C
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The proposed budget, which will go into effect July 1, has been significantly modified to account for the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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More than 30,000 Arizonans filed for employment benefits last week alone, a sign the state economy is far from recovery as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
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Classes, including finals exams, will be done online after the holiday, the University of Arizona says in a new plan.
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Tucson Medical Center, Banner-University Medical Center and Banner-University Medical Center South all report using turning to the state to help take in or move patients seriously or critically ill with the virus that causes COVID-19.
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Since 1978, Chicago Bar has been the place to go in Tucson for blues, beer and "Da Bears," but on Sunday, the owners said the financial strain from having to close for the coronavirus pandemic was too hard to overcome.
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Owner says COVID pandemic was the last straw after years of enduring construction projects and changes to the avenue's character.
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CoreCivic released the new numbers on positive cases days after the June 14 death of a senior correctional officer at the Eloy Detention Center was attributed to COVID-19.
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The biggest group of positive test results in Arizona is now among those age 20 through 44, health officials say.
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Across Pima County, 5,587 cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed, up 217 cases from the day before. No new deaths were reported in Pima County today.
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Dale Elkins, a Navy veteran who lived in Oro Valley, and his wife, Lori, were enjoying their retirement years when a health crisis struck.
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A reader has said he can't find grocery bag recycling bins. Another reader said her store didn't allow her to use her cloth grocery bags even though she had washed them. What gives?
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Dan Amaro, 53, was one of more than 40 employees who recently tested positive for the coronavirus during an outbreak at the United Parcel Service facility, union officials say.
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Across Pima County, 5,313 cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed, up 294 cases from the day before.
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The device, based on an invention by University of Arizona optical scientists, can be rapidly “trained” to detect any pathogen, from the common flu to future, as yet unknown threats.
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"We should be very concerned," says Dr. Francisco Garcia, Pima County’s chief medical officer. But the county's new mask-wearing requirements, covering all residents including in Tucson, might change the trajectory of the coronavirus outbreak, experts say.
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The Tucson Youth Football and Spirit Federation will be going ahead with a Sept. 5 season start, with officials saying, "If high school is going to play, and there’s going to be school, we’ll have a season."
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We are all in this together. When times get tough, Tucsonans come together and help one another. That is what makes this big city with a small…
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Across Pima County, 5,313 cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed, up 294 cases from the day before.
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The ordinance was to be modified to say any enforcement through law enforcement or the courts will be made only with board authority after two supervisors raised concerns about including legal consequences for ignoring the mask-wearing mandate.
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The play, put on by Tucson's Invisible Theatre, will be open to only 22 viewers at a time — all of whom are required to wear masks. Three of the performances have already sold out.
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Fire N' Smoke and Danny's Baboquivari Lounge say the rise in confirmed coronavirus cases poses a threat to their customers and employees.
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Employment gains were seen in food service, bar industry, as well as beauty salons and barber shops.
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Sheriff Mark Lamb was tested for the coronavirus before attending a meeting with President Donald Trump.
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Mayor Regina Romero's order may be short-lived, as the Pima County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet Friday to discuss a mask ordinance for the entire county.
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Gov. Doug Ducey has launched a public persuasion campaign to get people to wear masks against COVID-19, but he's put the burden on Tucson and other Arizona cities and counties to decide whether to mandate masks — even though recent research says requiring masks is key in fighting transmission. Ducey has a pattern of leading from behind.
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The use of a contact tracing app, support for DACA students and new quarantine protocols were among the topics of a University of Arizona news conference Thursday.
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In an abrupt about-face, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey gives local officials the power to enact and enforce mask requirements. He was under pressure from rising COVID-19 cases and from officials including Tucson's Mayor Regina Romero, who said she will require masks be worn in public. Pima County will also consider a a mask mandate.
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Itching to ditch home sweet home? These staycation spots are a sweet way to escape.
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Their new gaiter allows athletes to breathe while controlling the amount of moisture they emit from their mouths and noses. Those who have tried them say the gaiters are comfortable — something that most masks aren’t.
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BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs is returning to takeout only at its two Tucson locations and the owner hopes other restaurants here will follow his lead.
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Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey had insisted on a statewide policy not requiring masks, but changed course Wednesday under pressure from growth in COVID-19 cases and pleas from local officials. Mayor Regina Romero says Tucson will require masks to be worn in public.
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The exact details of the order by Mayor Regina Romero, including when it will go into effect and how it will be enforced are being drafted by city attorney, officials said.
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Cinemark will do a phased opening of its four Tucson locations. Other major movie theater chains — Harkins and AMC — have yet to announce reopening dates.
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The number of Arizonans receiving unemployment benefits is on the rise as Arizona reports record number of coronavirus cases.
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Brayann Lucero was released on his own recognizance and will wear an electronic ankle bracelet as his immigration case in Tucson unfolds.
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Since Pima County evictions resumed June 1, 783 cases have been processed and an eviction order has been issued about 75 percent of the time.
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Statewide, 2,392 new coronavirus cases were reported Tuesday. Across Pima County, 4,329 cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed, up 385 cases from the day before.
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Brayann Lucero, who has lived in Tucson since he was a toddler, faces ICE detention without a $12,000 bond.
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Load up the car, country superstar Garth Brooks is putting on a drive-in theater concert at Tucson Dragway on June 27.
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A public health expert at the University of Arizona is “absolutely convinced” the virus is spreading faster than it was several weeks ago, despite Gov. Doug Ducey downplaying the surge.
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Arizona Schools Chief Kathy Hoffman works to address digital inequity as Tucson's largest school district plans for the upcoming school year.
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After sending employees to work from home, businesses are adapting office spaces and developing policies to bring them back.
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Catalyst Arts & Maker Space gives artists and organizations a place to create and collaborate.
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The UA has done 11,000 antibody tests since the initiative was launched in April. Only 74 people — or about 1.3% — had antibodies, although that rate was slightly higher for health-care workers.
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Southern Arizona organizations that once relied on in-person interactions have still been able to offer their services to Tucsonans in need amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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Immigration lawyers and advocates say asylum seekers face confusing instructions as U.S. officials use a federal public health order to "expel" thousands of migrants to Mexico.
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UA President Robert Robbins said a possible scenario preventing re-entry in August is if Arizona starts to resemble New York, which saw its intensive-care unit beds and ventilators near capacity during its pandemic peak.
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Tucson Electric Power customers aren't likely to see any rate increases until October at the soonest, as added hearings and the pandemic have delayed the utility's rate case.
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Cara Christ, Arizona's health director, said state is "not going to be able to stop the spread'' of COVID-19, "and so we can't stop living as well.''
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Student-athletes will be split into groups of 10, subjected to daily wellness checks, wear masks while working out and more under the University of Arizona athletic department's re-entry plan.
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Concern about the coronavirus is dropping fast among Arizona Republicans while it's rising for Democrats, survey finds. President Trump's "massive megaphone" is one reason, pollster thinks.
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Arizona is dealing with a surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations that experts say is likely tied to Gov. Doug Ducey's ending of statewide closure orders in mid-May.
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Community members can buy a $25 gift card for a downtown Tucson business and get a free $10 added on on Friday, June 12.
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We're not anxious to get on a plane or drive thousands of miles from home, but a trip up north for a long weekend or a day trip to wine country? Count us in.
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As first-time unemployment claims rose, Arizona recorded a record number of intensive care unit beds in use by COVID-19 patients, as well as a record number of COVID-19 cases in hospital emergency rooms.
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When theaters went dark in March, Tucson lost more than the chance to see plays and be entertained.
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With weekly increases in cases hitting the highest level yet across the state, Arizona hospitals are seeing more patients in ERs, more admitted for overnight stays and more needing ventilators.
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What lies ahead as Tucson's economy emerges from state-ordered COVID-19 closures? Here's what you need to know about shopping, eating out, events, sports, school, entertainment, senior care and more.
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Led by a University of Arizona researcher, the study suggests public health officials had even more time to implement aggressive measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
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If you're starting to ease your way into the world again now that Arizona's stay-at-home order has been lifted, fishing may bring that sense of normalcy you've been craving.
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The two-day EDM festival is planning to host the event in downtown's Jácome Plaza in November. However, many artists are unwilling to commit to shows as the coronavirus continues to loom.
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Though hearings and jury trials can resume, a fast-track prosecution program for illegal border-crossing cases remains suspended.
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Dr. Marjorie Bessel noted a sharp spike in infections following the decision in the middle of last month by Gov. Doug Ducey to scrap his stay-at-home order.
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Low-cost carrier Allegiant could drop Tucson under an exemption related to federal pandemic aid, but is still flying here and even launched Las Vegas service on Friday.
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More than half of the federally licensed nursing homes in Pima County have had at least one COVID-19 case among residents and staff, according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
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The governor acknowledged the number of cases of people contracting the virus has increased in the weeks following his decisions. But he said that was to be expected, what with more people getting tested.
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Even with absences, emergency dispatching services continued as expected during outbreak, city officials said.
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The neighborhood market and grocer had closed up shop during the statewide coronavirus shutdown but hoped to reopen in May.
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Janos Wilder is offering dinner service on the patio, with social distancing measures in place, and takeout beginning Friday, June 5.
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As travelers return to the sky, Tucson International Airport has shifted from "strongly recommending" face masks to requiring them. The airport has also taken other measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
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The hospitalizations figure, a record, comes amid what has been a steady upward trend in cases since the Arizona Department of Health Services began tracking the numbers in early April.
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Will playing in an indoor environment that's believed to be more conducive to virus spread mean no fans or limited fans? If allowed, will fans have to wear masks? Be discouraged from yelling? And how many games will there be, anyway?
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Most Tucson's movie theaters say they are waiting for Hollywood to put out new movies.
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The possibility of a spike in coronavirus cases locally created cause for concern for Tucson Unified and health officials, leading to the cancelation of the events planned for later this month.
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The expanded effort seeks to conitnue to minimize the spread of the coronavirus throughout the Tucson area.
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Distancing school desks, temperature checks, face masks and limiting the use of commonly shared areas like cafeterias and playgrounds are among the recommendations for Arizona schools devising reopening plans.
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Many Tucson parents are telling Tucson's largest school district they want choices when it comes to sending their kids back to campuses as educators share concerns about returning in the absence of a coronavirus vaccine.
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With about 20% saying "no" to a return to schools, the financial impact could be worrisome; fewer students in classes could mean less public aid for Arizona schools.
