Tucson NewsNet Daily Digest - A Service of the City of Tucson
ARIZONA ISSUES GUIDELINES FOR GYMS AND OTHER BUSINESSES TO REOPEN - Following a court order, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey yesterday, Aug. 10, issued a “road map” to eventually allow gyms and fitness centers to reopen. The guidelines also include movie theaters, water parks, and some bars. While the metrics apply to counties with relatively low infection rates of COVID-19, businesses in Pima and Cochise counties don't qualify yet, but the Arizona Department of Health Services said they are close to meeting the metrics. Under the plan, gyms and fitness centers could reopen initially at 25% capacity when the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 in a county drops below 10% of all tests for at least two consecutive weeks. It also requires the rate of infection to be less than 100 cases per 100,000 residents and that fewer than 10% of those showing up at hospitals have COVID-like symptoms. At that point, movie theaters, water parks, and river tubing operations could operate at 50%. Any establishment licensed as a bar also could operate at 50% capacity, but only if agreeing to certain conditions. The bar would have to be operated like a restaurant, meaning no dancing, no milling around and mixing, and hosts must seat the patrons.
From Capitol Media Services the Arizona Daily Star
NEW COVID-19 CASES RISE AGAIN IN ARIZONA - As of today, Aug. 11, Arizona now has 188,737 positive coronavirus cases, with 1,213 new cases reported today, up from 600 yesterday. The total number of cases includes people who have recovered. Of that number, 18,381 cases are in Pima County. There have been 4,199 COVID-19 deaths in Arizona, and 501 of those occurred in Pima County. Meanwhile, the City of Tucson maintains an up-to-date COVID-19 website (link below) that includes information for businesses, residents, and even activities for kids. The site is updated as information evolves.
Data Dashboard from the Arizona Department of Health Services
City of Tucson COVID-19 website
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING TODAY - The Mayor and Tucson City Council will meet today in a Study Session and Regular Meeting. The 1:30 p.m. Study Session will include an update on the City's response to COVID-19, a review on evictions, a progress report on a City Wi-Fi initiative, and more. At or after 5:30 p.m., there will be a Regular Special Meeting of the Public Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, and the Regular Meeting will include a number of liquor license applications, grants, and intergovernmental and pre-annexation agreements. Mayor and Council also will fix, levy, and assess primary and secondary property taxes for the City of Tucson, and there will be a public hearing on a Substantial Amendment to the 2019 Annual Action Plan in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Mayor and Council meeting materials
TUMAMOC HILL WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR NOW - Tumamoc Hill will remain open after University of Arizona officials saw an increase in the number of walkers wearing masks – one of the mandatory guidelines put in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The popular walking destination on Tucson's west side, which is managed by the University of Arizona in partnership with Pima County, closed in mid-March and reopened on May 25. Walkers returned to the hill in large numbers, with between 750 and 1,000 people on the hill every day since early June. Not all walkers observed the safety protocols that allowed the hill to reopen, specifically the requirement that they wear face coverings. The university on July 24 began monitoring the number of walkers wearing face coverings to determine whether to keep the hill open or temporarily close it again. Since July 24, UArizona says the percentage of morning walkers wearing masks has risen sharply from about 23% to nearly 70%. A closure at a later date is still possible.
Read the news release
TAKE A VIRTUAL TUCSON PARKS AND RECREATION PILATES CLASS - Join Lana for a Pilates mat work class designed to tone and sculpt your entire body, while giving you a low-intensity, calorie-burning workout. You can take the class at your leisure by following the link below.
Take the class via YouTube
Tucson Parks and Recreation
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