Scottsdale Update - April 2, 2021

COVID-19 by the numbers. Maricopa County has been tracking COVID-19 cases since Jan. 22, 2020. Review the latest numbers here.

Remember, a healthy Scottsdale starts with you. Stay home when you can, practice physical distancing and wash your hands frequently. Find downloadable graphics for social media and request a poster pack for your business or organization.

Scottsdale and COVID-19 cases and vaccination stats. The latest county data show a slight increase in the Scottsdale COVID-19 case count. The city has 57.35 cases per 100,000 people (or roughly 149 cases among the city’s 260,000 residents). The data, reported with a two-week lag, show that we are down 582.4 cases per 100,000 since the peak on Jan. 3. However, our case rate on Thursday remained higher than at any time during the 10-week period between July 26 and Sept. 27, 2020.

So far, 45 percent of Scottsdale residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine; 31.5 percent have been fully vaccinated. Scottsdale continues to have the highest vaccination rates among all major Valley cities.

Cases increasing nationwide too; view the data. COVID-19 cases are increasing in many parts of the country. The most recent CDC data show a 19 percent increase in total U.S. cases over the past 14 days. Here in Maricopa County, our case rate seems to have flattened after weeks of steady decline. However, our seven-day average of 364 cases per day is still too high to let our guard down. The county is keeping a close eye on this data and encourages residents to be vigilant about preventive measures even as certain restrictions are lifted statewide.

Here's what works:

• Stay home when you’re sick.

• Avoid large groups.

• Wear masks and keep distance in public.

• Wash hands regularly.

• Get vaccinated when you can.

View data.

We need more shots in arms. The fact that millions of Americans have been vaccinated just a little more than a year into a global pandemic is incredible and a testament to scientists, researchers and public health experts. However, we don’t have enough vaccinations in people’s arms yet to have the communitywide protection to effectively stop the spread of COVID-19. So what does that mean for all of us? If you’ve been fully vaccinated, make sure you’re following the official guidance. If you’re still looking to get vaccinated, find out about eligibility and availability here. If you’re not sure about getting the vaccine, get the facts first and then get the shot when you’re ready.

The vaccine: pregnancy and fertility. There is currently no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccination causes any problems with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta. In addition, there is no evidence that fertility problems are a side effect of any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines. Like all vaccines, scientists are studying COVID-19 vaccines carefully for side effects and will continue to study them for many years. Learn more. 

Vaccines are free. There is not a cost to get a COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of your insurance status. Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order in December that ensures Arizonans can receive the COVID-19 vaccine for free as long as the state's public health emergency declaration is in effect. If you do have insurance, you may be asked for it so the provider can bill the insurer for an administrative fee. But you will not be charged.

The city’s COVID-19 page contains information about the city’s emergency orders, facilities and operations. Learn more here.

Follow us on Twitter @ScottsdaleAZgov and Facebook fb.me/ScottsdaleAZgov for city COVID-19 updates and other city information.

The city Call Center is available 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays to assist residents via phone – call 480-312-3111.

Visit ScottsdaleAZ.gov to access city services online.

Scottsdale celebrates Earth Day all month. From learning about eco-friendly simple solutions you can do in your everyday life to keeping track of how much waste you create in your own home, there are plenty of ways to learn how we can help our planet. Find all the ways you can participate. Remember to check out Scottsdale Video Network every Friday in April for informative videos from our Sustainable Scottsdale YouTube playlist, including a special extended version on Earth Day, April 22, focusing on the city’s Green Building Programs featuring Anthony Floyd and Mayor Ortega.

The ARTrageous Gala benefiting Scottsdale Arts goes virtual. Save the date – 7 p.m. Saturday, April 10, for this fundraising event which benefits Scottsdale Arts and its four operating branches: Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA), Scottsdale Public Art and Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation. You can elevate your at-home experience with decadent sips and scrumptious bites provided by Atlasta, plus exclusive treats from Scottsdale Arts. Register here for the experience that best suits you.

The old west meets the new west for Western Week, April 10-18. Traditionally held in February, this year’s Western Week will be celebrated April 10–18, offering a horseload of free fun activities for the entire family. Here are three highlighted events:

• Gold Palette Artwalk: April’s Gold Palette ArtWalk will be dedicated to a Western Week theme with entertainment, music and special offerings at participating galleries. The free event runs from 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday, April 15, in the Scottsdale Arts District (Main Street from Scottsdale Road to Goldwater Boulevard and north of Indian School Road on Marshall Way to 5th Avenue). Learn more.

• 63rd Annual Hashknife Pony Express arrival. This year marks the 63rd ride for the Hashknife Pony Express, which is the oldest officially sanctioned Pony Express in the world. At noon, Friday, April 16, the Hashknife Pony Express arrives inside Scottsdale Stadium to deliver more than 20,000 pieces of mail to the U.S. Postal Service.

• Arizona Indian Festival. This two-day celebration honors Arizona Indian culture and raises awareness of our state’s indigenous communities through a spirited and immersive festival. Arizona is made up of 22 tribes and most will be featured during the event which runs from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, April 17; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, April 18, on Scottsdale Civic Center. Get details.

We’re turning the page - in-person story times begin at Scottsdale libraries. Kids can play and learn together using books, songs, rhymes and fingerplays to get a head start on early learning. For story time dates, times and locations, follow us on social media or check our online calendar. New dates will be announced weekly and some story times will require registration. Story times will be held outside with limited attendance and physical distancing. Mask wearing is highly encouraged for participants 6 and older.

Senior centers host in-person discussion groups. Join us each week for in-person, staff-run discussion groups on various topics at both the Granite Reef and Via Linda senior centers. Social distancing measures will be in place and face coverings are required.

• Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Register by 10 a.m. the prior Friday at 480-312-1700.

• Via Linda Senior Center,10440 E. Via Linda, 2 p.m. Wednesdays. Register by 10 a.m. the prior Friday at 480-312-5810.

Get drawn into Scottsdale ArtWalk - an American original. Stroll at your own pace, wander into galleries through a festive area enjoying dramatic statues, bubbling fountains, tree-covered courtyards, famed restaurants and live music. ArtWalk runs from 7-9 p.m. Thursdays, year-round in Old Town.

Arts center presents Thursday evening film series. This series features five movies that range from music icon documentaries to family-friendly stories for all ages. Enjoy the films under the stars along the greenspace outside the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and inside the Virginia G. Piper Theater. Scottsdale Arts is requiring masks indoors and physical distancing outside. Films run at 8 p.m. April 8 and 24; and May 8.

Veg out Saturdays at the Old Town Farmers Market. Buy fresh vegetables, fruits and creative crafts at Scottsdale’s Old Town Farmers Market. It’s held 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through May. The market is in the public parking lot at 3806 N. Brown Ave.

April is Safe Digging Month. Have you ever wondered what the different colored markings on roads or in yards are? They’re a sign that a homeowner or contractor has put safety first and had utility lines identified prior to excavation. Utility lines that serve the community with vital services such as natural gas, electricity, sewer and water can be buried anywhere. Striking a utility line not only poses a safety risk, but can also cause an interruption of service to customers.

The city and Southwest Gas encourage homeowners and contractors to call 811 or go online here at least two working days prior to digging to request a utility line locate.

Celebrate National Library Week, April 4-10. Honor this week by designing your own bookmark using the theme, “Welcome to Your Library!” Various contest age categories are available, including one for moms and dads. Print out a blank bookmark page or pick one up at any of the drive-thru windows, curbside or inside Civic Center Library and Mustang Library. Submit your bookmark by Saturday, April 10, at the library windows, inside Civic Center Library and Mustang Library or on social media using the hashtag #ScottsdaleLibraryWeek.

No early retirement for Scottsdale Fire Deputy Chief Joseph Early. Early’s fire career spans 45 years, beginning in 1976 with the city of Chicago and wrapping up March 31, with the city of Scottsdale. He began serving the city in 1989 with the Rural/Metro Fire Department. He joined the Scottsdale Fire Department in 2005 as the special operations battalion chief and retired as the resources deputy chief. Read more about Early’s storied career.

Kudos to Code Inspector Jorge Espinoza for his quick thinking and compassion. Jorge’s stop at Stonegate Park might have just saved a life. He noticed a vehicle parked oddly and spotted a woman in the driver’s seat with her head down. At first, he thought she was texting or napping. Upon further investigation, he noticed she was unresponsive and was foaming at the mouth. Jorge called 911, and an arriving ambulance took the woman to the hospital. While we don’t know her condition, we do know that if not for Jorge’s quick and heroic actions, the outcome may have been much worse. Thank you, Jorge, for doing everything you could to save a life that day.

This week's traffic restrictions in and around Scottsdale. Get the list.