The following column is the opinion and analysis of the writer.
Despite concerns about what was happening in China, February was a typical one in Pima County. Our great month of events β the gem show, the rodeo, the Cologuard Classic β all went off without a hitch. The weather was great, the economy was strong, restaurants were packed, tourists were everywhere, unemployment was near record lows, life was good.
That all changed in March. Like a fast-moving wildfire, SARS-CoV-2 (the name of the virus) blew into Pima County in early March, endangering our lives and engulfing our economy.
Local jurisdictions, and then the state, took extraordinary measures to slow the spread of the virus, closing businesses and schools and asking as many people as possible to stay home.
Our community hasnβt seen restrictions on our lives and livelihoods like this since perhaps World War II, or maybe not since 1918 when a different virus stormed through our country .
We knew what these restrictions would mean β layoffs, financial hardship, anxiety, isolation, anger. But they had to be done. Every major metropolitan area in this country faced the possibility of COVID-19 overwhelming health-care systems and causing death and despair.
As youβve heard frequently the past six weeks, we had to flatten the curve β reduce the spike of infections to the point that the health-care system could manage the rise in severely ill people .
It has been a difficult and tragic six weeks; thousands have been infected in Pima County, hundreds have been hospitalized, dozens have died. Yet, we are finally seeing signs that our mitigation efforts are working β the curve is starting to flatten and our hospitals are keeping ahead of the virus. We may be through the thick of the firestorm.
That has naturally led to calls to loosen restrictions and let people out of their homes and back to work and school. But the fire is not out. If we act too quickly or carelessly, the blaze will run wild again. We will not be able to resume our lives as we knew them in February as quickly as they were upended in March.
We have worked hard to slow the spread of COVID-19. We must work equally as hard to safely restore our county to normal, or as close to normal as this new virus will allow. This week, the county began creating a Pima County Back to Business Task Force that will determine the criteria for reopening our community .
There are a lot of questions to answer: What are the rules for operating in a time of coronavirus? Who will enforce the rules? What does βreopen with physical distancingβ mean? When is the curve flat enough to move to the next phase of restrictions reduction?
The task force will gather members of the business community, local governments, public health experts and others to create the guidelines.
Fighting the virus is causing a lot of pain and there will be a lot of pressure to reopen the closed or restricted businesses quickly. Thatβs understandable. But we pledge that public health data and health-care infrastructure will drive our decisions.
Pima County is following the phased reopening criteria and guidelines of the state and federal government, with an eye toward a county-specific implementation approach. Some communities may open more quickly than ours, and, conversely, we may outpace others. Itβs all a matter of the data and the facts.
Itβs going to take all of us working together, cooperatively, respectfully and patiently to get through this time of crisis. And until the restrictions are eased, please stay safe, stay home, and stay healthy.
Photos for April 23: Tucson gets by during Coronavirus Pandemic
Tucson, coronavirus
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Erika Munoz, owner of Seis Kitchen, hands over a bag of meals to Michael Gallagher Carondelet, a registered nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital, to distribute to other nurses and hospital workers, on April 23, 2020. The donation was made in conjunction with A+C (Athletes/Artists+Causes) Foundation's βProject Frontline.β In two deliveries, 400 meals (200 poc chuck chicken and 200 puerco verde burritos) will be given to medical personnel at Carondelet St. Josephβs Hospital. The particular donation was made possible by the Houston Astros' Pitching Coach Brent Strom, who lives in Tucson.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Hospital workers wheel in carts full of catered meals donated by Seis Kitchen to Carondelet St. Joseph's Hospital, on April 23, 2020. The donation was made in conjunction with A+C (Athletes/Artists+Causes) Foundation's βProject Frontline.β In two deliveries, 400 meals (200 poc chuck chicken and 200 puerco verde burritos) will be given to medical personnel at Carondelet St. Josephβs Hospital. The particular donation was made possible by the Houston Astros' Pitching Coach Brent Strom, who lives in Tucson.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Kristi Hall, a sixth grade teacher at Desert Sky Middle School, participates in planning a lesson with a fellow teacher on Zoom, at her home on April 17, 2020. Schools in the Vail School District are supposed to open in July due to their year-round school calendar. Plans are being made for the possibility of students returning to the physical classroom.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Bry Kelley, a warehouse assistant, places a pallet filled with food down next to other items donated to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona on on April 21, 2020. Forty-one thousand pounds of flour, pasta and canned goods were donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The donation is part of an ongoing global effort by the church to address immediate needs of people and orgainzations due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Tucson, coronavirus
Updated
A pallet of food is placed down next to other items donated to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona on on April 21, 2020. Forty-one thousand pounds of flour, pasta and canned goods were donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The donation is part of an ongoing global effort by the church to address immediate needs of people and orgainzations due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Tucson, coronavirus
Updated
Christian Bergman, 4th year University of Arizona medical student, takes the temperature of a patient outside the Z Mansion, 288 N. Church Ave., in Tucson, Ariz., on April 19, 2020. Medical students from the University of Arizona and other universities volunteer to help the homeless population with the growing concerns of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) within the homeless population. βThis is a vulnerable population in our community; they canβt defend themselves in a society already running short on supplies and resources,β said Bergman. Medical students and medical personal help by giving out food, drinks with electrolytes and masks to the homeless. Those who are sick, medically impaired or have been exposed to those with COVID-19 are isolated outdoors in tents on the property. As of Sunday April 19, there were 13 individuals whom are isolated in tents.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Lekha Chesnick, 1st year medical student at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, talks with a homeless man (whom choose to not give his name) outside of the Z Mansion, 288 N. Church Ave., in Tucson, Ariz., on April 19, 2020. Medical students from the University of Arizona and other universities volunteer to help the homeless population with the growing concerns of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) within the homeless population. Medical students and medical personal help by giving out food, drinks with electrolytes and masks to the homeless. Those who are sick, medically impaired or have been exposed to those with COVID-19 are isolated outdoors in tents on the property. As of Sunday April 19, there were 13 individuals whom are isolated in tents.
Tucson, coronavirus
Updated
Christian Bergman, 4th year University of Arizona medical student, checks on a patient outside the Z Mansion, 288 N. Church Ave., in Tucson, Ariz., on April 19, 2020. Medical students from the University of Arizona and other universities volunteer to help the homeless population with the growing concerns of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) within the homeless population. βThis is a vulnerable population in our community; they canβt defend themselves in a society already running short on supplies and resources,β said Bergman. Medical students and medical personal help by giving out food, drinks with electrolytes and masks to the homeless. Those who are sick, medically impaired or have been exposed to those with COVID-19 are isolated outdoors in tents on the property. As of Sunday April 19, there were 13 individuals whom are isolated in tents.
Tucson, coronavirus
Updated
Elliott Dumont, owner of Roadrunner Bicycles, 6177 E. Broadway Blvd., works on a customer's bike on April 22, 2020. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has not slowed down bike shops. With many people at home, they are bringing bicycles for repairs and buying new ones for exercise. Dumont says he's booked out till the first week of May for tuneups on bikes.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Elliot DuMont, owner of Roadrunner Bicycles, 6177 E. Broadway Blvd., far left, helps Ethan Sasz, far right, and his son, Evan, 10, with a mountain bike purchase on April 22, 2020. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has not slowed down bike shops. With many people at home, they are bringing bicycles for repairs and buying new ones for exercise. Dumont says he's booked out till the first week of May for tuneups on bikes.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Marcella Montoya waits in her vehicle as general manger David Kessler brings out her order, as Bear Canyon Pizza serving their customers despite COVID-19 restrictions, April 22, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Kitchen manger Koa Hoffmann tosses dough while working up a crust for a call-in order as he and few others keep cooking at Bear Canyon Pizza despite COVID-19 restrictions, April 22, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Alvaro Enciso, a local artist, works in one of his studios at his home on April 9, 2020. Every Tuesday Enciso travels into the Sonoran desert to post crosses where migrants have died after crossing illegally over the U.S./Mexico border as part of a project he's titled Donde Mueren Los Suenos / Where Dreams Die. With the outbreak of the coronavirus disease his six year project is on hold and instead he works on other artwork at home.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Dolly Spalding works on a pen and ink drawing in her apartment at the Redondo Tower Apartments on April 7, 2020. During her quarantine, Spalding has been creating drawings of all the Greek goddesses. She is collaborating with Emlyn Boyle, an artist from Ireland, and plans to publish a book with Boyle's writings.
