This is for all the old school anons like myself who can take joy in little things:
In the last hour or so, I was at a Circle K gas/convenience store here in AZ just after 5:00. It was busy.
At least 15 people in the store and all in line had on masks, except me.
I was standing middle of the line near the doors and just glanced over at the cover story on The Arizona Republic newspaper and kek'd like kkekkkeekkkek, like a quiet laugh growl,
as the headline made me smile as it was juxtaposed with the masks.
Headline:
'A storm is ahead of us': Ducey warns public of rise in COVID-19, but doesn't impose new preventive measures
A STORM…kekekekee kkekek kek
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I really don't care what the Arizona Republic paper has to say and means nothing to the headline that made me kek, but here's the sauce anyhow:
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https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-health/2020/10/29/arizona-gov-doug-ducey-coronavirus-update/6070745002/
Published 9:55 am MT October. 29, 2020
Maria Polletta
Arizona Republic
In late May and early June, just weeks before Arizona experienced one of the world’s worst COVID-19 outbreaks, Gov. Doug Ducey repeatedly sought to reassure his constituents.
He noted the increase in confirmed cases was expected, given expanded testing; contrasted Arizona's experience with that of harder-hit states, such as New York and Washington; and for weeks resisted putting more aggressive measures in place.
Ducey returned to those themes on Thursday during an afternoon news briefing, warning against “conflating” Arizona’s situation with that of the nation at large as reporters pressed him on the state's worsening COVID-19 metrics.
“It's different here in our state than it is in other states,” he said. “Arizona is in a position right now where we need to be vigilant and keep our guard up, but the rise in cases, the concern at the hospital level, is not happening in the state of Arizona at this time.”
It may be soon.
COVID-19 is spreading through the state at its fastest rate since June, according to infection tracker rt.live. On Tuesday, Banner Health officials said if recent upticks in case counts and hospitalizations continue, hospitals could meet or exceed the number of COVID-19 patients seen during the June and July surge. And Ducey himself acknowledged there "is a storm is ahead of us."
Nonetheless, the Republican leader announced no new preventive measures on Thursday, instead of pointing to existing strategies such as restaurant capacity limits. He contended the state had already "learned what works to combat this virus.
“I am proud that Arizona is open, that our economy is open, that our educational institutions are open and our tourist destinations are open,” he said.
U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona Democrat and longtime critic of Ducey's pandemic response, swiftly criticized what she described as further inaction from Ducey on Thursday.
"The best thing to do when you see the very recent past (early June) repeating itself is … nothing. Wait, that doesn’t seem right," she wrote on Twitter.
"AZ, don’t wait for (Ducey) to take action. You can take steps to protect yourself & your family. Wear a mask, stay home, & avoid gatherings."
Christ: Don't underestimate risks
Many of the businesses targeted for closure at the end of June have gradually reopened in the months since, and students in districts throughout the state have slowly resumed in-person learning. The state also relaxed its recommended guidelines for schools last week.
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