This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/13/us/arizona-coronavirus-mark-anthony-urquiza.html

The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Daughter’s Obituary Blames Politicians for Arizona Man’s Virus Death Daughter’s Obituary Blames Politicians for Arizona Man’s Virus Death
(about 20 hours later)
When Kristin Urquiza’s father died last month in Arizona, she wrote an obituary that offered not one but two causes of death: the coronavirus, and ineptitude on the part of government officials.When Kristin Urquiza’s father died last month in Arizona, she wrote an obituary that offered not one but two causes of death: the coronavirus, and ineptitude on the part of government officials.
Mark Anthony Urquiza, “like so many others, should not have died,” Ms. Urquiza wrote in an impassioned obituary published in The Arizona Republic.Mark Anthony Urquiza, “like so many others, should not have died,” Ms. Urquiza wrote in an impassioned obituary published in The Arizona Republic.
“His death,” she wrote, “is due to the carelessness of the politicians who continue to jeopardize the health of brown bodies through a clear lack of leadership, refusal to acknowledge the severity of this crisis, and inability and unwillingness to give clear and decisive direction on how to minimize risk.”“His death,” she wrote, “is due to the carelessness of the politicians who continue to jeopardize the health of brown bodies through a clear lack of leadership, refusal to acknowledge the severity of this crisis, and inability and unwillingness to give clear and decisive direction on how to minimize risk.”
In many respects, the article Ms. Urquiza wrote about her father, who died June 30 at age 65, was an ordinary obituary. It noted that he was a high school 400-meter dash state champion and a cross-country runner. It listed survivors. And it offered a sense of his personality: “Mark was known for his infectious energy, strong will, and yes, stubbornness.”In many respects, the article Ms. Urquiza wrote about her father, who died June 30 at age 65, was an ordinary obituary. It noted that he was a high school 400-meter dash state champion and a cross-country runner. It listed survivors. And it offered a sense of his personality: “Mark was known for his infectious energy, strong will, and yes, stubbornness.”
But in a state that was slower than some to issue a stay-at-home order, and quicker to reopen, Ms. Urquiza did not contain herself to the strictly personal, though the obituary did not name either Gov. Doug Ducey of Arizona or President Trump.But in a state that was slower than some to issue a stay-at-home order, and quicker to reopen, Ms. Urquiza did not contain herself to the strictly personal, though the obituary did not name either Gov. Doug Ducey of Arizona or President Trump.
The obituary has drawn attention from around the state and the country. The “Today” show, The Washington Post, NPR and others have written about it. The funeral, limited to 50 people, was the subject of a front-page story in The Arizona Republic on Saturday.The obituary has drawn attention from around the state and the country. The “Today” show, The Washington Post, NPR and others have written about it. The funeral, limited to 50 people, was the subject of a front-page story in The Arizona Republic on Saturday.
“I’m not comfortable grieving silently because I believe that my dad’s death was preventable,” Ms. Urquiza, 39, said in an interview. “And had the Ducey administration, the Trump administration, been listening to experts, doctors, epidemiologists, Dr. Fauci, we would be in a completely different situation. I needed to speak out.”“I’m not comfortable grieving silently because I believe that my dad’s death was preventable,” Ms. Urquiza, 39, said in an interview. “And had the Ducey administration, the Trump administration, been listening to experts, doctors, epidemiologists, Dr. Fauci, we would be in a completely different situation. I needed to speak out.”
Asked for comment, Mr. Ducey’s office said: “Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of Mark Anthony Urquiza. We know nothing can fully alleviate the pain associated with his loss, and every loss from this virus is tragic.”Asked for comment, Mr. Ducey’s office said: “Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of Mark Anthony Urquiza. We know nothing can fully alleviate the pain associated with his loss, and every loss from this virus is tragic.”
Ms. Urquiza said she doesn’t need the governor’s heart. “I want you to act,” she said.Ms. Urquiza said she doesn’t need the governor’s heart. “I want you to act,” she said.
She buried her father on Wednesday, and on the same day started an ofrenda — an altar with pictures of those lost to the virus — outside the Arizona State Capitol building. On Facebook, her page “Marked By Covid” put out a call for people to bring their own mementos to the altar.She buried her father on Wednesday, and on the same day started an ofrenda — an altar with pictures of those lost to the virus — outside the Arizona State Capitol building. On Facebook, her page “Marked By Covid” put out a call for people to bring their own mementos to the altar.
The goal? Making it “too big to ignore.”The goal? Making it “too big to ignore.”
Ms. Urquiza said she had invited Governor Ducey to the funeral because she was baffled by his virus policies. “He must not know the impact that it’s making on real people and the families that are being torn apart,” she said.Ms. Urquiza said she had invited Governor Ducey to the funeral because she was baffled by his virus policies. “He must not know the impact that it’s making on real people and the families that are being torn apart,” she said.
As infections spread throughout Arizona in late June and early July, Mr. Ducey ordered bars, nightclubs, movie theaters, gyms and water parks closed. But he stopped short of canceling events like the Round Valley Rodeo, a century-old tradition, and he has resisted rules that would require people to wear face coverings in public places. There have been more than 120,000 cases of the coronavirus in Arizona, and at least 2,239 have died there.As infections spread throughout Arizona in late June and early July, Mr. Ducey ordered bars, nightclubs, movie theaters, gyms and water parks closed. But he stopped short of canceling events like the Round Valley Rodeo, a century-old tradition, and he has resisted rules that would require people to wear face coverings in public places. There have been more than 120,000 cases of the coronavirus in Arizona, and at least 2,239 have died there.
Ms. Urquiza has spent a lot of time thinking about the disparities the pandemic has thrown a spotlight onto.Ms. Urquiza has spent a lot of time thinking about the disparities the pandemic has thrown a spotlight onto.
Mr. Urquiza, a first-generation Mexican-American who was raised in Tolleson, Ariz., worked in manufacturing. When he died, he made his home in the Phoenix neighborhood with the most virus cases per capita.Mr. Urquiza, a first-generation Mexican-American who was raised in Tolleson, Ariz., worked in manufacturing. When he died, he made his home in the Phoenix neighborhood with the most virus cases per capita.
Updated July 7, 2020
The coronavirus can stay aloft for hours in tiny droplets in stagnant air, infecting people as they inhale, mounting scientific evidence suggests. This risk is highest in crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation, and may help explain super-spreading events reported in meatpacking plants, churches and restaurants. It’s unclear how often the virus is spread via these tiny droplets, or aerosols, compared with larger droplets that are expelled when a sick person coughs or sneezes, or transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces, said Linsey Marr, an aerosol expert at Virginia Tech. Aerosols are released even when a person without symptoms exhales, talks or sings, according to Dr. Marr and more than 200 other experts, who have outlined the evidence in an open letter to the World Health Organization.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
“These are the people who were unable to stay home during the shutdown,” she said, the “skeleton crew.”“These are the people who were unable to stay home during the shutdown,” she said, the “skeleton crew.”
“If we want to do right by them,” Ms. Urquiza said, officials need to figure out how to support the people who cannot stay home.“If we want to do right by them,” Ms. Urquiza said, officials need to figure out how to support the people who cannot stay home.
“’Netflix and chill’ is a privilege,” she said.“’Netflix and chill’ is a privilege,” she said.
The obituary for Mr. Urquiza notes that in addition to Kristin and her partner, Christine Keeves, he is survived by his life partner, Brenda, as well as five brothers and sisters.The obituary for Mr. Urquiza notes that in addition to Kristin and her partner, Christine Keeves, he is survived by his life partner, Brenda, as well as five brothers and sisters.
“We honor Mark’s life by continuing this fight for others, even in these darkest moments,” Ms. Urquiza wrote.“We honor Mark’s life by continuing this fight for others, even in these darkest moments,” Ms. Urquiza wrote.
When she wrote the obituary, she said, didn’t view it as anything “radical.”When she wrote the obituary, she said, didn’t view it as anything “radical.”
She thought she was “just telling the truth.”She thought she was “just telling the truth.”
““