News Release
December 16, 2020
Governor Announces Health Care Workers Receiving Vaccine Today, Arizona Distributes Additional Funding To Help Replenish Public Health Emergency Fund
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HOENIX Governor Doug Ducey today toured the vaccine distribution site at the Arizona State Fairgrounds and announced ten Arizona health care frontline workers who will be among the first Arizonans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
After the tour, the Governor also announced the state is distributing $15 million in additional funding to the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) for health emergency needs. The funding will be used to help replenish the public health emergency fund.
“The vaccine is here, and we’re getting it to health care workers promptly,” said Governor Ducey. “This is a significant step in the fight against COVID-19 but the fight isn’t over. We continue to urge Arizonans to follow mitigation measures and get the COVID-19 vaccine when possible. I’m gratef
Advertisement: Christ shared alarming metrics at the press conference, such as a growing 18% positivity rating of coronavirus for the week of Dec. 6 and 429,219 total cases reported to date in Arizona. COVID-like illness is also increasing, and hospitals are overwhelmed with patients. In response, the governor announced a disbursement of $15 million to the Department of Health Services to “replenish” the state’s emergency fund and purchase more resources to combat the virus, the governor said. Although COVID-19 cases are surging and hospitals are inundated with coronavirus patients, Ducey doesn’t plan on creating further statewide mitigation to slow the spread despite many appeals from public health officials to do so.
A 25-year-old man was killed in a three-vehicle crash Monday afternoon near Interstate 10, Tucson police said.
Victor Ortega Brito died at Banner-University Medical Center shortly after the crash, which occurred just before 12:30 p.m. on North Freeway Road and West Speedway.
Police said Brito was driving south on the freeway access road when for unknown reasons his vehicle, a 1996 Nissan Maxima, struck a 2018 Subaru Impreza that was stopped at the light at Speedway. Brito s vehicle then swerved into the left turn lane and struck the back of a dump truck that was also stopped at the light.
Speed does appear to be a contributing factor, Tucson police said. The drivers of the Subaru and dump truck showed no signs of impairment, police said.
Pima County to start COVID-19 vaccinations Thursday tucson.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from tucson.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Arizona Daily Star
Police have released a description of the vehicle that struck two pedestrians, one fatally, on a sidewalk in the 1300 block of West Ajo Way on Dec. 11.
The name of the woman who was killed was also released by police. She was identified as Heidi Mabel Hammonds, 62.
The vehicle involved is a pearl white 2011 Lincoln MKX, which is missing the passenger s side mirror, Tucson police said Thursday, Dec. 17, in a news release.
Officers were sent to Ajo Way just west of South Valley Road at about 9 p.m. Friday for two women who had been struck by a vehicle. One woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The other was taken to Banner-University Medical Center with serious injuries.