Arizona’s death toll from the coronavirus disease has topped three thousand people as Governor Doug Ducey faces a deadline to decide whether bars and gyms can reopen.
Roughly a third of those deaths have occurred in the past two weeks, and the state Health Services Department reported 89 new deaths today. Arizona now has more than 150,000 confirmed coronavirus cases. On June 29 Ducey issued an order closing bars and gyms, but it’s set to expire next week.
Navajo Nation health officials reported 45 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease and six additional deaths yesterday. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez signed an executive order yesterday to keep parts of the tribal government closed through mid-August because of the coronavirus pandemic. The executive branch had been scheduled to reopen July 27 but now will stay closed until August 16. Nez cited recent surges in coronavirus cases off the reservation. Most tribal government offices have been closed to the public or restricted services since the first COVID-19 cases were reported in March. Yesterday, tribal lawmakers overturned the veto of a bill to cancel the tribe's primary election on August 4. Chapter officials instead will be elected by plurality vote in November.
