Did you receive a text with a survey about your vaccine? It’s one of those scams that just keeps reappearing … each time with a new twist. This time, the phony survey claims to be from pharmaceutical company Pfizer, with questions about their COVID-19 vaccine.
Shady Mercado, 38, and her daughter, Samantha Mercado, 20, want to be able to leave their home and feel safe. They want to visit with friends and extended family without fear of getting sick with the COVID-19 virus.
As more states open up, COVID-19 vaccine appointments to all adult residents, demand is far outpacing supply. “Vaccine hunter” websites, online forums and social media groups have sprung up, offering to help people find open appointments and leftover vaccine doses in their area.
Sewage testing has revealed an increase of the virus that causes COVID-19 throughout Yuma County. Officials announced the elevated levels in the wastewater on Friday and encouraged precautions, testing and vaccination.
Yuma County on Wednesday will align its vaccine eligibility with the Arizona Department of Health Services, which is offering the vaccine to individuals as young as 16 years old.
Yuma County, in partnership with the Western Arizona Council of Governments, launched a new emergency rental assistance program to help residents throughout the county. Funding will be used to pay for past-due rent and utility bills and other housing expenses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the Yuma Civic Center is prepared for the switch to a state-supported COVID-19 vaccination “super pod,” Yuma Regional Medical Center is seeking community volunteers to help run the site, and yes, volunteers will get the vaccine.
A state-supported COVID-19 vaccination “super pod” that will open March 29 at the Yuma Civic Center will start with 8,000 appointments per week but will eventually be able to administer more than 4,000 doses per day. The term “pod” is used to reference a “point of dispensing” vaccination site.
The COVID-19 strain known as the Brazilian variant has been found in Yuma County. This variant spreads at a faster rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Yuma City Council on Wednesday allotted COVID-19 relief funds to two community organizations.
Following calls from concerned residents, Yuma County officials clarified on Monday that the COVID-19 coronavirus has been detected in the Del Oro wastewater only and not the drinking water. The drinking water is safe and does not have to be boiled before use.
Arizona is looking to open a 24/7 COVID-19 vaccination site at the Yuma Civic Center possibly mid-March.
The Yuma County Office of Emergency Management and Arizona State University are holding a free saliva testing event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday at Arizona Western College, 2020 S. Avenue 8E (P1 Parking Lot, enter from 24th Street) in Yuma.
Yuma County on Friday alerted Del Oro residents that increasing levels of COVID-19 had been detected in that area of the Foothills. According to a map sent by the county, the affected area covers the southwestern portion of the Mesa Del Sol subdivision, off Interstate 8, between Fortuna Road…
Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot told Rep. Paul Gosar that he does not have the authority to honor the congressman’s request to detain asylum-seeking migrants that are being released in Yuma and San Luis.
As extreme weather across the nation delays shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine, Yuma County officials called for continued patience as the demand for the shot continues to exceed the supply available in Yuma County.
Yuma County supervisors on Wednesday expressed concern that asylum-seeking migrants dropped off into the community without sufficient COVID-19 testing and preventive measures will contribute to the spread of the virus.
Migrant families are being released in the Yuma and San Luis communities by the U.S. Border Patrol, Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls announced in a Monday tweet.
People tell Mike Esquivel, owner of The Flower Mine, that he should be happy that his business is booming. But he has a hard time feeling happy when so many people are suffering.
The Quechan lndian Tribe, “with great sadness,” announced the death of Councilwoman Claudette C. White on Saturday after a short battle with COVID-19. She is survived by her son, Zion, who is recovering from the coronavirus.
For Jovani Ford of the Arizona Lighting Company, one of the hardest challenges of running a business is retaining workers. The small business only has a handful of employees, so even being one down can have a huge impact on the company.
Babies born in the pandemic are growing up in a whole different world. I saw a video of a toddler pretending to apply hand sanitizer. Only in a pandemic would this happen!
Editor’s note: Meeting times and public access should be verified prior to attending. Some boards have closed meetings to the public due to COVID-19 and can only be viewed online. Send changes to mknaub@yumasun.com.
The inconsistencies in the price of COVID-19 testing came up during the Yuma County Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday. The charge for taking a test to detect the coronavirus in the county ranges from free to $161.
Yuma County tackled two problems related to the COVID-19 vaccine this past week. First, some providers were not reporting data in a timely manner, leading to a smaller allocation for the county. Second, some people outside the prioritized groups were being vaccinated, according to members of…
TESTING OPPORTUNITIES
Reports of child abuse in Yuma County were down in 2020, but not because less children were being abused. Rather, with the COVID-19 pandemic, kids spent more time at home, away from teachers’ watchful eyes. Teachers are often the ones who spot and report suspected abuse.
Yuma County is receiving 5,200 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine this week for community members in the priority groups.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, three cleaning crew members have continuously worked in the COVID-19 and intensive care units at Yuma Regional Medical Center, where some of the community’s sickest patients have been treated.
Many winter visitors have asked if they’ll be able to get their COVID-19 vaccine in Yuma County or if they have to go back home for it. Dr. Bharat Magu, chief medical officer at Yuma Regional Medical Center, answered that question.
More COVID-19 vaccines will arrive in Yuma County on Tuesday. Some of the new supply will be distributed to healthcare providers and some will be used in drive-thru vaccination clinics held by the Yuma County Public Health District.
Yuma School District One is now offering on-site rapid COVID-19 testing to staff and students who are experiencing symptoms of the virus or who have been in close contact with someone confirmed positive.
A Yuma pilot project that provides early detection of COVID-19 has gotten the stamp of approval from Gov. Doug Ducey.
Yuma County will pay for home internet access for students who don’t have the service to support their remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Normally, the Yuma Sun staff concludes the year with the Top 10 stories of the year, highlighting the news that had the biggest impact in Yuma County throughout the year.
As the number of COVID-19 cases spike, the most pressing issue at Yuma Regional Medical Center isn’t space. It’s staffing. YRMC still has enough beds for patients, but not enough nurses or equipment to staff those beds.
In an effort to mitigate COVID-19 spread through the community, Yuma will expand the days city buildings and facilities will close to visitors this week and next.
I’m so fortunate to be able to work from home during this pandemic, but many essential workers have to leave their homes every day. Healthcare workers are fighting in the frontlines, and they have my respect and gratitude. But there are other workers who also deserve respect and gratitude, s…
With new daily cases of COVID-19 infections continuing to spike, Yuma officials are urging residents to avoid large gatherings this holiday season and continue wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing.
The first coronavirus vaccines will soon arrive across the nation and presumably in Yuma County soon after. However, officials are warning residents not to line up just yet.
As the number of COVID-19 positive cases continues to spike, Yuma County’s top health official warned that the situation is putting a strain on the local healthcare system.
Yuma County’s total number of positive COVID-19 cases here is 12,720, according to the county’s Sept. 29 update, and there have been 345 deaths. There were 8 new cases reported.
PHOENIX – Two new reports suggest that Arizonans will be among the least likely to get immunized against COVID-19 once a vaccine becomes available.
PHOENIX – A little-noticed provision in a court ruling this week on bars and alcohol sales could end up curtailing business at some restaurants and force them to close.
While school campuses have been closed since COVID-19 thrust students and educators into a distance learning environment in March, Yuma Union High School District’s facilities and custodial team was mobilized to procure personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies to safely segue t…
Yuma County’s total number of positive COVID-19 cases here is 11,854, according to the county’s Aug. 15 update, and there have been 297 deaths. There were 64 new cases reported.
Sunset Health, in collaboration with the Arizona Department of Health Services, is holding a drive-thru testing blitz on Saturday. Testing will take place from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the clinic located at 675 S. Avenue B.
Yuma County’s total number of positive COVID-19 cases here is 8,310, according to the county’s July 12 update, and there have been 145 deaths. There were 162 new cases reported.
Yuma County’s total number of positive COVID-19 cases here is 7,613, according to the county’s July 7 update, and there have been 120 deaths. There were 168 new cases reported.
The Supreme Court of Arizona has issued several administrative orders since March 18 in response to the COVID-19 public health threat that limited and modified court operations throughout the state that are intended to keep staff and patrons safe from exposure to the virus.
An employee from the Yuma County Intergovernmental Transportation Authority (YCIPTA) has been confirmed positive for COVID-19, the agency announced in a news release Tuesday. While it’s unclear whether the individual — whose last day of work was June 12 — was exposed while on the job, manage…
PHOENIX — A two-week delay in the start of in-classroom learning ordered by Gov. Doug Ducey may give schools more time to prepare to teach in the middle of the pandemic.
PHOENIX — Conceding he made a mistake in allowing them to reopen, Gov. Doug Ducey on Monday shuttered all bars in the state for at least the next 30 days.
SOMERTON — This city figures to receive $1.9 million in federal funds to mitigate the financial fallout from the pandemic.
From hosting painting classes and live performances to providing a venue for art exhibitions, meetings and special events, Littlewood Fine Art & Community Co-Op has served as a cultural center for the community over the last three years.
Buying yourself a facemask not only could protect you and others from COVID-19 but help patients at Yuma Regional Cancer Center.
SAN LUIS, Ariz. -- So far seven city employees here have tested positive for COVID-19, the mayor says.
Yuma has enough money to cover a third month of emergency rental assistance for those who might need it. Council heard an update on how the funds have been spent.
Yuma County announced on Friday the launch of a new countywide COVID-19 Face Cover Information Line and email address to serve residents who live in unincorporated areas of the county.
PHOENIX – The state’s top health official says the key to slowing the spread of COVID-19 could be finding way to reach the people who believe they’re the least likely to get infected or suffer ill effects.
In response to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, Yuma Regional Medical Center has initiated Tier 3 of its pandemic plan, bringing added staffing support from areas throughout the organization.
Crane School District reported Friday that two additional district employees — one from the district’s maintenance department and one from the district’s warehouse — have been confirmed positive for COVID-19.
With a 5-2 vote, the Yuma City Council agreed to amend the March emergency proclamation to add a requirement for the use of face coverings within city public places. The mask mandate became effective at 11:59 p.m. Friday.
Yuma County residents have another drive-thru opportunity to be tested for COVID-19 on Saturday as part of the state’s testing blitz.
Yuma County and Somerton have joined San Luis in mandating the use of masks, while Wellton issued a proclamation “recommending” the use of masks.
San Luis Mayor Gerardo Sanchez, along with Vice Mayor Maria Cecilia Cruz, on Wednesday evening signed a proclamation mandating face coverings in public spaces. The mandate went into effect immediately.
Starting Monday, all Yuma County Area Transit (YCAT) and YCAT OnCall passengers will be required to wear a face mask or another type of facial covering while on board. Passengers without a mask will not be allowed to board.
PHOENIX — In an abrupt about-face, Gov. Doug Ducey on Wednesday agreed to give city, town and county officials the power to enact and enforce requirements for people to wear face masks.
SAN LUIS, Ariz. — The port of entry here and elsewhere on the border will remain closed to non-essential travel between the United States and Mexico at least until July 21.
Yuma County’s total number of positive COVID-19 cases here is 3,404, according to the county’s June 15 update, and there have been 51 deaths. There were 125 new cases reported.
Summer school is in session at Aztec High School, affording enrolled students an opportunity to recover some class credits and, this year, a crash course in the “nuts and bolts” of blended learning.
Taking to heart the popular Mister Rogers quote to “look for the helpers” in frightening times, local Rotarians have looked within, typifying the traits of helpers in their own communities to provide some relief from the effects of COVID-19.
Yuma is extending the expiration date of most permits to help developers and those in the construction and real estate industries as they struggle with difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On June 1, the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) released a 40-page “roadmap” offering guidance to public school districts as they plan and prepare to reopen their classroom doors this fall. With such recommendations as keeping social distancing intact through modified layouts, Yuma Coun…
A second employee of the Yuma County Area Transit (YCAT) has tested positive for COVID-19, the transportation agency confirmed Friday.
Local leaders have banded together in a call to action urging all Yuma County residents to strictly follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the county.
SAN LUIS, Ariz. – Amid a rise in COVID-19 cases across Yuma County, the mayors of San Luis and Somerton are reminding south county residents not to drop their guard against the virus as businesses reopen and economic activity resumes.
Yuma County residents will have two drive-thru opportunities to be tested for COVID-19 on Saturday as part of the state’s testing blitz.
SAN LUIS, Ariz. – Two San Luis police officers have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing to four the number of first-responders here who have been infected since the start of the coronavirus pandemic began.
PHOENIX – The chief clinical officer at the state’s largest hospital network said Friday that Arizona is headed to a health crisis if residents don’t change their habits to deal with COVID-19.
Crane School District reported on Wednesday that three additional employees were confirmed positive for COVID-19, placing the district’s case count at six total.
SAN LUIS, Ariz. – As a police officer here recovers from COVID-19 this week, another first responder in the city has tested positive for the coronavirus.
SOMERTON – Two Somerton city employees are off work recovering after having tested positive for COVID-19, the city administrator said.
Crane School District announced on Tuesday that a third positive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in the district. The individual is an employee of the nutrition services department; the individual’s last day of work was May 26, according to a press release from the district.
PHOENIX – The number of Arizonans hospitalized with positive or suspected cases of COVID-19 surged to 1,009 on Monday, raising questions from the state’s former health chief about whether Gov. Doug Ducey should have abandoned his stay-at-home order.
Doctors at Yuma Regional Medical Center are testing a possible treatment for COVID-19 called convalescent plasma, which could deliver antibodies and counteract the severity of the virus.
YUMA — The Mexican Consulate in Yuma, closed after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has gradually reopened its doors to provide limited services by appointment only.
Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area was gearing up to reopen the Colorado River State Historic Park and Yuma Territorial Prison today, but due to the daily high numbers of COVID-19 positive cases, it has delayed the reopenings.
Yuma County’s total number of positive COVID-19 cases here is 1,078, according to the county’s May 30 update, and there have been 16 deaths. There were 96 new cases reported.
In a press release on Friday, Crane School District announced that a second district employee has tested positive for COVID-19. The first was reported by the district May 22.
Yuma Regional Medical Center transferred a dozen COVID-19 patients to other hospitals, but officials say that it’s not because the hospital reached full capacity. Rather, officials said, the move is meant to keep more beds open in case of a “significant surge” in COVID-19 patients.
Blitz testing for COVID-19 will continue on Saturday with a drive-thru event in Yuma. Sunset Health, in collaboration with the Arizona Department of Health Services and Sonora West Laboratories, will offer drive-thru testing from 8 a.m. to noon at the Sunset clinic located at 675 S. Avenue B.
Enhanced COVID-19 PCR testing took place for staff this week at the Arizona State Prison Complex (ASPC) in Yuma.
SAN LUIS RIO COLORADO, Son. – An image posted on City Hall’s Facebook page shows the bottoms of a pair of bare feet. Dangling from a toe is a tag that says “COVID-19.”
Editor’s Note: In honor of EMS Week, the Yuma Fire Department released a series of information and tips about safety. This story on injury prevention for seniors is one in that series.
As the number of positive COVID-19 cases continues to climb in Yuma County, with Saturday’s reported 41 new cases bringing the area’s overall total to 645, Yuma Regional Medical Center says its care team is prepared and ready to care for the community.
In a recent New York Times article projecting areas in which COVID-19 could “flare up next,” Yuma ranks No. 2 for the nation’s potential hot spots, reportedly marked by an 8% average daily growth rate and a doubling of cases every 9.2 days.
SOMERTON – Catholic churches in south Yuma County are getting ready to open their doors to parishioners following weeks of closures prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yuma Regional Medical Center confirmed on Thursday that an employee in the Pediatrics 22nd Drive clinic tested positive for COVID-19.
Blitz testing for COVID-19 continues this Saturday with a drive-thru event in Wellton. The Regional Center for Border Health, in collaboration with the Arizona Department of Health Services, will offer the drive-thru testing from 8 a.m. to noon in the parking lot of the Wellton Elementary Sc…
Blitz testing for COVID-19 continues this Saturday with a drive-thru event in Wellton. The Regional Center for Border Health, in collaboration with the Arizona Department of Health Services, will offer the drive-thru testing from 8 a.m. to noon in the parking lot of the Wellton Elementary Sc…
Great Beginnings Preschool is closed until further notice as Crane School District received notice Friday that an employee of the preschool tested positive for COVID-19. According to a press release from the district, the individual has not worked on the school’s campus since May 14 and is c…
Wellton residents will get a chance to get tested for COVID-19 with drive-thru testing on Thursday and another testing event at the elementary school on Saturday.
SOMERTON — Some restaurants in south Yuma County are choosing not to reopen for in-housing dining amid the still-growing number of cases of COVID-19 in the county.
Editor’s note: This story is one in an ongoing series celebrating Yuma’s everyday heroes and their contribution to the community’s greater good. To submit a Hometown Hero, send in an email to news@yumasun.com.
The number of COVID-related deaths in Yuma County increased on Monday from four to five, officials said.
SAN LUIS, Ariz. — In the course of bettering themselves, a group of youth are providing some relief from the heat for those who have lost work.
In a reflection of the “new normal,” the window display at the Boot Barn, 242 W. 32nd St., hits the mark. The mannequins are all wearing masks.
SAN LUIS, Ariz. — Two nonprofit health care providers will resume testing people for COVID-19 on Saturday after drawing large crowds of people seeking the tests last weekend.
Beginning Wednesday, Yumans can stop by one of Crane School District’s grab-and-go meal sites to pick up a free box of produce and gallon of milk, thanks to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).
In a recent campus news release, Arizona Western College announced that, through the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act Relief Grant, spring semester students enrolled in for-credit classes can expect to receive a sum of stimulus funds either by mail or directly into t…
SOMERTON — An employee at a second elementary school in this city has tested positive for COVID-19, the school district said.
Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has not reached the catastrophic levels in Yuma County that have been experienced in other parts of the country.
PHOENIX – Come Saturday, you can legally go catch a flick at your local theater.
PHOENIX – Gov. Doug Ducey is telling business owners that their ability to remain open – and the future of the Arizona economy – is going to depend on how well they follow the voluntary protocols designed to prevent another outbreak of COVID-19.
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR — Can you recommend some good grocery and/or meal service delivery options for seniors? My 78-year-old mother has always shopped for herself, but since the coronavirus pandemic hit the grocery store, shelves are always half empty, and she’s getting more fearful of leaving t…
Healthcare facilities in Yuma County will continue the testing blitz for COVID-19 on Saturday. Following are the sites that will offer drive-thru testing:
While COVID-19 has spurred an extensive series of changes in Yuma Regional Medical Center’s everyday policies and practices, staff in the labor and delivery unit are striving to keep things running as close to normal as possible.
The Arizona State Prison Complex Yuma, which is located east of the city of San Luis, now has the second highest number of inmates who have tested positive for the coronavirus, the Arizona Department of Corrections is reporting.
Another favorite Yuma restaurant announced that an employee tested positive for COVID-19, but the eatery feels confident enough in its sanitizing process that it will not be closing.
PHOENIX — Come midnight Friday night, Arizonans will no longer be living under a stay-at-home order.
When Erica Espinoza gets home from work, she has to keep her three daughters away from her. She’s a nurse who works in the Emergency Department of Yuma Regional Medical Center.
Yuma Sector Border Patrol has been providing personal protective equipment (PPE) for its employees and detainees, although they’re keeping few people in their facility while the COVID-19 pandemic goes on.
Rey Vasquez, franchise owner of Golden Corral, was happy to bring his Yuma team back to work and serving the community on Monday.
SOMERTON — Somerton police officers and firefighters will be able to quarantine themselves at the Cocopah Resort and Conference Center as a way to prevent spread of COVID-19.
PHOENIX — The checks are finally going out to Arizonans who are ineligible for the state’s regular unemployment insurance program.
The warm weather has finally arrived! One hundred degree days and cool nights should have the melons, wheat, cotton and Sudan grass growing happily. What an amazing time we are all living through. Decisions are being made on a daily basis depending on the latest information rather than follo…
Yuma International Airport announced that American Airlines will start requiring masks for all air travelers starting Monday.
Editor’s note: This story was first published in the May-June edition of BIZ Magazine, a publication of the Yuma Sun.
Executive Director Myra Garlit says the COVID-19 pandemic has led to some major changes in the way Crossroads Mission operates.
United Way of Yuma County announced $856,460 in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program to provide critical resources for Yuma County’s most vulnerable population.
As the globe’s recent pandemic has redefined adjectives like “essential,” school nutrition staff continue to fit the description. While their campuses remain closed, their kitchens’ typical morning buzz has hardly skipped a beat.
Yuma County on Thursday reported the COVID-19-related death of a child from the area. It is the first pediatric death in connection with the coronavirus in Arizona. The child had multiple serious underlying medical conditions, according to a county press release.
Sunset Health and Yuma Regional Medical Center will continue “blitz” testing for COVID-19 on Saturday.
It was around 1 a.m. last Friday, and my wife nudged me awake. Her shoulders shook in the darkness. The tears ran freely down her face.
The Arizona State Prison Complex Yuma is one of the facilities with no confirmed cases of COVID-19, but corrections officers there are being asked to volunteer to work their days off at Florence/Eyman, which has 47 positive cases of the coronavirus among inmates and staff.
The coronavirus pandemic has hurt businesses throughout Yuma County, and the executive director of Visit Yuma notes it’s also changing the way people spend their time and money. Now, Visit Yuma is hoping some of those changes might one day benefit the region.
They had a window between them but the sight of her daughter through the glass brought joy and comfort to Cynthia Molphy Marshall’s mother as she convalesced at Yuma Rehabilitation Hospital after a serious illness.
SAN LUIS, Ariz. — Residents here won’t have to worry about losing water service if a job or wage losses resulting from the COVID-19 prevents them from paying their bills to the city.
PHOENIX — Saying he’s seeing some positive trends, Gov. Doug Ducey agreed Monday to loosen the reins a little bit more on the state’s economy.
To enhance public participation in Yuma City Council meetings while public health restrictions remain in place, the city is testing a pilot program for residents this Wednesday. Citizens will be able to join the meeting using the conferencing software service Zoom using a computer or telephone.
SAN LUIS RIO COLORADO, Son. — An order suspending city-sponsored public events has been extended through the end of the year, as part of measures to fight the spread of COVID-19 and to help families struggling financially as a result of the pandemic.
When a Yuma manufacturer heard about the shortage of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, it shifted gears in an effort to help fill the need in the local hospital.
As the tragic impact of the COVID-19 on New York City continues to dominate the news, a former Yuman is on the frontline as a physician in the Emergency Department of one of the area’s hospitals.
SOMERTON — Clients of the Somerton Senior Center have masks to protect them against the novel coronavirus, courtesy of a civic group in San Luis, Ariz.
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