The Pima County Board of Supervisors plans spend $180,000 from a multi-million dollar settlement with drug manufacturers to purchase and distribute Narcan, "blanketing" the area with the medication that can reverse otherwise fatal opioid overdoses. Read more» 
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The number of people behind bars is up 30% in Pima County, but jail staffing is down 45 percent in the wake of the pandemic. This is a problem without any obvious solution. The county supes are in a tight spot. Plus more in local government meetings this week. Read more»
None of the Democrats saw an upside in forcing Arizona Republicans to go on the record as saying no public health leaders should ever take public health actions during a public health emergency. Read more»
Despite a "mountain of expertise," Dr. Theresa Cullen will not lead the Arizona Department of Health Services after Gov. Hobbs withdrew her nomination Tuesday. Cullen was blasted by Republican legislators for measures Pima County took during the COVID pandemic.
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After a long and often contentious hearing, the Arizona Senate’s newly created Committee on Director Nominations gave a recommendation to one of Gov. Katie Hobbs’ appointees but rejected Dr. Theresa Cullen over disagreements with public health policies. Read more»
Arizona Gov.-elect Katie Hobbs has picked Dr. Theresa Cullen, Pima County health director, to lead the state Department of Health Services. Cullen has spent 35 years working in public health and took the helm in Pima County in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more»
Green Valley will host a series of four free COVID-19 and flu vaccination events to make sure adults 65 years and older get protected against a worse-than-normal spread of respiratory diseases. Read more»
The continued spread of RSV, influenza and COVID-19 has caused an increase in the number of area hospital beds in use, the Pima County Health Department warned. People should wear masks and socially distance during holiday gatherings, and get vaccinated, officials said. Read more»
Pima County has started offering free at-home COVID-19 test kits at all 26 of their public libraries as respiratory infections continue to spike here. Read more»
Respiratory viruses such as RSV, COVID-19 and the flu are spreading at higher rates than normal for this time of year, and people be cautious during Thanksgiving weekend, Pima County health officials said. Read more»
After a brief pause, the Pima County Health Department will extend a free COVID-19 "test-to-treat" program that offers Paxlovid therapy, with some changes.
Read more»
Cases of monkeypox have continued to rise in Pima County, with 18 confirmed as of Monday, but officials have no plans for public health mandates, like those from the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more»
Pima County has vaccinated more than 600 residents who were at risk of contracting monkeypox, starting in early July, and the county is now running short although it expects to receive more doses in August. Read more»
Monkeypox cases in Pima County are expected to grow, with residents most at risk being people with multiple intimate partners, Health Director Dr. Theresa Cullen said. Local groups are fighting a false perception the painful infection only affects gay men. Read more»
Pima County’s free test-to-treat program for COVID-19 patients has been extended through August 24, after the federally supported Paxlovid program was set to end. Read more»
Only 3% of children under five years old in Pima County have received at least one shot of COVID-19 vaccine, roughly a month after the shots became available to younger kids. Read more»
