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LATEST INFORMATION
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TODAY'S KEY MESSAGE
Board Approves Reprecincting Plan
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The Board of Supervisors approved changes to voting precinct lines to reflect development, population growth, and workload in the Maricopa County Justice Courts. Not surprisingly, the western and southeast regions of the County saw the greatest growth in the past five years and required the creation of new precincts.
Voting precincts are the smallest building block for elections and usually have about 5,000 voters. Voting precincts affect ballot design, candidates, and in-person voting so it is important to make sure the lines incorporate neighborhoods while not running through the middle of new homes and buildings. This resulted in 136 total changes and the addition of 84 precincts for a total number of 832.
Learn more >
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Maricopa County Response to Senate Election Audit
The Arizona Senate released findings of its audit of Maricopa County’s 2020 General Election. Their ballot count was nearly identical to the county’s official canvass. Maricopa County provided fact checks on a series of claims by the Senate’s contractors here and here. Additional facts about Maricopa County elections are provided at JustTheFacts.vote.
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COVID-19 Vaccines Recommended for Pregnant People
During pregnancy, a person’s immune system is lower, putting them at greater risk for infection and getting sick. More than 120,000 pregnant people in the United States have had COVID-19 since January 22, 2022 according to the CDC. The CDC is strongly recommending COVID-19 vaccines to pregnant people, who are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19 than non-pregnant people. COVID-19 vaccines protect both the pregnant person and the fetus by preventing infection in the mother and because COVID-19 protective antibodies from the vaccine are passed from mother to fetus.
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Here Are the Facts:
- COVID-19 vaccines cannot cause infection in pregnant people or their babies.
- There is currently no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine causes fertility issues in men or women according to the CDC.
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A recent study from the University of California Irvine Health found that expectant mothers diagnosed with COVID-19 were more likely to deliver prematurely, require ICU admission, intubation and to die compared with pregnant people without COVID-19 infection.
- The CDC is continuing to follow pregnant people in all trimesters to closely monitor outcomes.
- The vaccine is also safe and recommended for lactating people and people who are trying or intending to become pregnant.
Watch & Share the Video >
Update on the Pfizer Vaccine Booster
The COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States continue to be remarkably effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant.
Although we continue to see stable and highly effective protection against hospitalizations and severe outcomes for people who are fully vaccinated, we are seeing a decrease in vaccine effectiveness against infections overall. This decline coincides with the increase in the Delta variant in the United States, along with relaxation of masking and physical distancing recommendations.
On September 24, the CDC approved recommendations for Pfizer vaccine booster shots for individuals 65+, residents in long-term care settings, adults 18-64 with certain underlying medical conditions, and adults 18-64 in high-risk work and institutional settings at least 6 months after their Pfizer primary series. We will be updating our website and FAQs with more details on this new guidance. Please see ADHS press release and CDC statement for more information.
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ASU Study on Masks at Schools
A new ASU study of about 1000 K–12 public non-charter schools in Maricopa and Pima Counties found that the likelihood of a school-associated COVID-19 outbreak in schools without a mask requirement was 3.5 times greater than schools with a mask requirement in place at the beginning of the school year. Maricopa County Department of Public Health continues to support CDC guidelines, which recommend that K-12 schools implement universal indoor masking as part of a layered prevention strategy.
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Where Can I Get Vaccinated?
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NEWS BITES
Protect Yourself Against West Nile Virus
So far this year, there have been 138 cases and seven deaths in Maricopa County due to West Nile virus. This is much higher than last year, and is looking like it will be one of the worst years since 2004 when the virus was first identified in Maricopa County. West Nile virus is typically spread from mosquitoes to humans, so please remove all standing water from around your home where mosquitoes can breed. This includes potted plants, pet bowls and even toys. The number of mosquito surveillance pools testing positive for West Nile virus has skyrocketed from last year, when only ten tested positive, to this year, when more than 600 have tested positive so far.
Wear insect repellent when you go outside and cover your arms and legs with clothing when possible to protect yourself.
ARPA Dashboard
For more than a year, Maricopa County has been a trustworthy steward of federal COVID-19 recovery funds, allocating millions of dollars to keep people in their homes, to connect people with jobs, to keep small businesses running, and do track and mitigate the spread of the virus.
Would you like to know how COVID-19 American Rescue Plan funds are being spent?
We have created an ARPA Dashboard so you can see exactly where those dollars are going.
Supporting Domestic Violence Survivors
Maricopa County will announce a partnership with Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence to provide unprecedented funding to support domestic violence survivors. You can watch the press conference live tomorrow (Tuesday) at 11 a.m. on our YouTube channel.
September is Suicide Prevention Month
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The National Suicide Prevention hotline is 1800-273-TALK. For help with mental health or substance use you can find resources in Maricopa at Mental Health & Substance Use | Maricopa County, AZ.
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PETS AND PLACES
Pet of the Week
Studly
Meet handsome 3-legged Studly. Sadly this is his third time staying at the shelter, and this sweet guy is ready to be done with shelter life for good this time! He wants nothing more than to spend time with people and soak up their love and is a definite volunteer favorite. If introduced properly, we think he may do well with other dogs and/or kids in his new family, and suspect that a doggie door with a securely-fenced yard would be a plus in his eyes.
Studly is estimated to be around eight years old and still loves to be active.
Visit pets.maricopa.gov to find more information about Studly and other shelter pets in need of homes, and reserve an appointment to adopt your new best friend.
Place of the Week
Are you in need of a little adventure? Gather the whole family and take them to experience all the McDowell Mountain Regional Park has to offer!
- Are you fearless? Then the Gopher Snake encounter is for you! On Thursday September 30th, stop by the Nature Center Pavilion for an “up close and personal’ encounter with a live Sonoran Gopher Snake! Snake can be seen from 8 to 9 am. During that hour you will learn all about these incredible reptiles and the chances you could see one on a future hike.
- Welcome to the most bio-diverse desert on the planet: Sonoran Desert 101! This half-mile interpretive hike will focus on common plants and animals in our region and the surprising adaptations that allow them to thrive. Meet at Nursery Tank Trailhead on Sunday, October 3rd at 9 am. Bring water and sturdy shoes!
- Check out the Splendid Saguaro! Few plants are as emblematic of the Sonoran Desert as the saguaro cactus. On Saturday October 16th at 10 am, meet us as the North Trailhead for an hour-long hike as we explore the fascinating ecology and cultural history of these towering giants!
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