Coronavirus cases continued to increase in Arizona on Monday but at a seemingly slower rate than in previous days.
The total number of coronavirus cases in Arizona neared 2,500 on Monday, while the number of deaths reached 65, according to the state’s Department of Health Services (ADHS).
The number of cases – 2,456 – increased from Sunday by 187, while only one more death was reported. These are smaller increases than as of late – from Saturday to Sunday, cases increased by 250, while deaths jumped up by 12.
Honeywell to Produce Millions of Face Masks
While health care workers are having to deal with a shortage of protective medical equipment like face masks, various groups across the state are stepping up to provide what they can.
Honeywell, a North Carolina-based company with multiple offices across the state, on Saturday committed to manufacturing over 6 million respirator masks in 12 months.
The company will hand the completed masks over to ADHS, which will distribute them to county health departments. Those departments will then distribute them to health care workers.
According to the company, this ramped-up production will create 500 jobs.
“We at Honeywell are moving quickly to expand our production capacity for N95 masks globally and are pleased to partner with the state of Arizona,” John Waldron, president and CEO of Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions, said in a press release. “Responding to COVID-19 is an all-hands-on-deck effort, and Honeywell is proud of our role in providing essential equipment to the first responders and medical professionals we are relying on during this crisis.”
Trump Approves Arizona’s Major Disaster Declaration
Over the weekend, President Donald Trump approved Gov. Doug Ducey’s declaration of major disaster in Arizona.
Ducey made the request April 1, and Trump approved it Saturday. Arizona is one of the last states to receive the designation. Since March 13, All 50 states, the District of Columbia, five territories, and 23 tribes have been approved as major disaster areas.
While Ducey had already declared a state of emergency last month, this additional step makes even more federal funding available for expanding food access, legal assistance, mental health care, and more.
The specific programs that will receive assistance are:
- Crisis Counseling Program;
- Disaster Case Management;
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance;
- Disaster Legal Services;
- Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;
- Hazard Mitigation Grant Program;
- And any other appropriate Stafford Act disaster assistance programs.
“I’m grateful to President Trump for approving Arizona’s request and for the Administration’s continued partnership,” Ducey said in a press release. “These resources will bolster our efforts to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and help us bounce back afterward stronger than ever. This continued collaboration will be crucial as we utilize all tools to combat this virus.”
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