Scottsdale Update - March 19, 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, cover your nose and mouth and wash your hands frequently. Find downloadable graphics for social media and request a poster pack for your business or organization.

COVID-19 case counts at 22-week low in Scottsdale. The latest case count in Scottsdale is 50.37 cases per 100,000 people. The data, which is reported with a two-week lag, show a decrease of 8.92 cases per 100,000 since the prior period. While we are still in substantial community spread, we have declined for eight straight weeks and are at the lowest number since Sept. 27.

County releases new vaccination data. Maricopa County Public Health released new countywide vaccination data Wednesday. The data show:

• Nearly 925,000 or 26 percent of Maricopa County adults have been vaccinated with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

• An average of 30,000 per day were vaccinated last week in Maricopa County, up from 25,000 the week before.

• Almost 70 percent of those vaccinated in Maricopa County are 55 years or older.

• 72 percent of adults 75+ have received at least one dose of vaccine.

• 65 percent of adults 65-74 have received at least one dose of vaccine.

• 35 percent of adults 55-64 have received at least one dose of vaccine.

Vaccine access is now more convenient. Many people in our community have challenges getting to vaccination sites. To combat the hardship, the county is hosting pop-up events in neighborhoods. It wants to bring vaccines to those who are eligible. In addition to the pop-up events, more than 180 county pharmacies offer vaccines, making it more likely you’ll find an appointment near you, especially as the supply increases. Learn more.

Resources are available to transport you to a vaccination site. Valley of the Sun YMCA has partnered with Uber and the Arizona Department of Health Services to provide rides for seniors to state-run sites. Call 602-212-6088 or email opas@vosymca.org for more information. Additionally, people enrolled in Arizona's Medicaid program (AHCCCS) don’t have to pay for transportation to and from COVID-19 vaccine appointments. AHCCCS beneficiaries who have a scheduled COVID-19 vaccination appointment at a drive-thru site can contact their health plan to schedule non-emergency transportation to get to that appointment. Lastly, the county’s Grand Canyon University vaccination location is pedestrian-friendly and near public transportation. Learn more.

CDC offers text-based, after-vaccination health check. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s V-Safe is a text-based, after-vaccination health checker for people who receive COVID-19 vaccines. When you receive your vaccine, you should also receive a V-Safe information sheet telling you how to enroll in V-Safe. If you enroll, you will receive regular text messages directing you to surveys where you can report any problems or adverse reactions you have after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Don’t have a V-Safe info sheet? Sign up here.

Club SAR Fitness Center increases capacity. The city increased the maximum number of participants allowed inside the gym from 31 to 50 people. Face coverings are still required inside the facility. Reservations for a one-hour gym time are recommended and temperature checks are taken upon arrival.

Lastly, it’s not over, folks! We have seen a sharp decrease in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths over the past few months, but there are several challenges ahead. First, we are still learning about the COVID-19 variants spreading across the United States and here in Arizona. We do not know yet how they will affect the spread of the disease. Second, we have not yet vaccinated enough people to achieve community immunity. That means the virus still has plenty of people it can infect. That’s why we all need to keep taking preventive measures. Stay home when you’re sick, mask up in public and limit contact with people outside of your household. When it’s your turn to get a vaccine, we encourage you to do so.

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.

New video shares 2020 community survey results. Every couple of years, we ask residents for their opinions about the community, city services and programs. Last year, that feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Watch this video to see what people are saying about Scottsdale.

Scottsdale hires Sonia Andrews as city treasurer. Following a national recruitment, the Scottsdale City Council has appointed Sonia Andrews as Scottsdale’s next city treasurer. Andrews has been Peoria’s chief financial officer since April 2018, where she led the finance department and oversaw the city’s annual budget process. She is a certified public accountant and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Oregon State University. She is a member of the Government Finance Officers’ Association and an Arizona Border Collie Rescue volunteer.

McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center closed for maintenance next week. Projects include complying with new drain entrapment legislation, installing pavers near the barbecue and adding permanent shade structures. All programming and operations will be moved to Chaparral Aquatic Center during this weeklong closure. Regular programming will resume Saturday, March 27.

More opportunities this week to comment on Scottsdale General Plan. The Scottsdale Planning Commission will hear Case 1-GP-2021 Wednesday, March 24. The case pertains to a General Plan Amendment (adoption of a new Scottsdale General Plan 2035) in order to revisit and revise the community’s long-term objectives and land development policies for future growth, development and redevelopment and to amend existing General Plan elements. The purpose of this meeting is to get additional public input on the draft plan. This meeting will be held electronically; please see the agenda for more details.

Celebrate Earth Day with these events:

• Green Building Webinar: Simple Solutions to Restore Our Earth - Learn about Dorie Morales' journey with Green Living magazine, and her guide to a living a more sustainable life. She will walk you through a home tour and offer simple solutions to help you live a more eco-conscious life. The program runs from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, April 1. Read more and register here.

• Spring Gardening Webinar: Join master gardeners Joan Baron and Morgan Winburn as they share tips and planting ideas for your gardens. If you are eager to have a beautiful robust garden, now is not the time to procrastinate! We will walk you around the garden and show starter plants, flowering plants and talk about preventing the aphids from moving in. The program runs from 4-5 p.m. Thursday, April 15. Learn more and register.

Mellow out with the Mayor’s Youth Council April 1. Join the youth council from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 1, to learn how mindfulness can help balance the stress of this past year and the pandemic. Zoom access is open to the general public, and the in-person event at Scottsdale Stadium is open to Scottsdale high school students. Masks are required and social distancing measures will be in place. Learn more.

Scottsdale named Tree City USA for 2020. The Arbor Day Foundation has named Scottsdale a Tree City USA recipient for the 39th year, more times than any other Arizona community. Scottsdale will host a ceremony in April to observe Arbor Day and receive the award as part of a bigger Earth Day celebration. Learn more.

Diversity Office’s Sharon Cini participates in ABC 15’s virtual town hall, “Hidden Biases of Good People.” ABC 15 and the CW61 recently aired an hour-long special with Dr. Bryant T. Marks Sr. exploring implicit biases. As part of an ABC 15 virtual town hall, Sharon Cini, program manager from city’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, discussed the topic with Eric Bailey from Bailey Strategic Innovation and Dr. Della Saenez, chief diversity officer at Arizona State University. Sharon shared that conversations like these can lead to stronger understanding, empathy, self-awareness and continued changes for the better.

Nearly 50 children get dental details at drive-up event. To celebrate National Children’s Dental Month, the Scottsdale Family Resource Center, in partnership with First Teeth First, hosted a healthy teeth drive-up event. Forty-eight children received tote bags containing a toothbrush kit, masks and a coloring book. Families also had the opportunity to schedule a free dental screening with First Teeth First.

Neighborhood College finished its spring 2021 session with nearly 500 attendees. The city hosted 491 participants in nine classes on topics such as HOA law, estate planning and the stories of Scottsdale history. The city offered the free classes virtually on the Zoom webinar platform. Instructors are volunteer attorneys and city staff. Learn more.

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