Arizona in Brief: Arizona reports 2,595 new COVID-19 cases, 38 new deaths

PHOENIX — Arizona is reporting nearly another 2,600 new COVID-19 cases as well as 38 more deaths.

The state Department of Health Services’ dashboard Tuesday showed 2,595 more confirmed cases of the virus.

This brings the state’s pandemic totals to 991,309 cases and 18,638 deaths.

Hospitalizations due to the virus inched up again to 1,994 patients.

Officials with several of the state’s biggest health care systems have said a majority of hospitalizations and ICU occupancies are comprised of unvaccinated people. Public health experts say the more transmissible delta variant is also making up most cases.

Gov. Doug Ducey and hospital leaders continue to urge vaccination as the best way to stop the virus’ spread.

So far in Arizona, more than 7.2 million vaccine doses have been administered. At least 3.9 million people — or 55.3% of the eligible population — have received at least one dose. Over 3.4 million have been fully vaccinated.

Man missing on Grand Canyon National Park hike found alive

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK — An Arizona man reported missing last weekend while on a hike in Grand Canyon National Park was found alive Tuesday.

National Park Service officials say 48-year-old Arturo Hernandez was located about 2 p.m. by search and rescue personnel in a helicopter.

They said Hernandez was found along the Hermit Trail near Breezy Point and was in stable condition and awaiting helicopter evacuation.

Park officials said the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report of two overdue hikers on the Hermit Trail early Monday.

Several hours later, one overdue hiker reached the trailhead without incident but the other hiker — Hernandez — did not.

Hernandez, of Surprise, had been last seen east of Hermit Creek Camp on the Tonto Trail around 11 a.m. Sunday.

Park rangers hiked the Hermit Trail and did an aerial search Monday, but were unable to locate Hernandez.

Tuesday’s search involved six ground teams and a National Park Service helicopter and was focused on areas near the Hermit and Tonto trails and the Monument Creek drainage.

Kingman: No official determination of cyberattack method

KINGMAN — An investigation into a cyberattack targeting Kingman has concluded after finding that sensitive information involving approximately 200 people apparently was compromised but making no official determination of how the breach occurred, officials said Tuesday.

The Feb. 26 attack knocked down the city’s computer system, blocking access to some city work functions, email and customers’ ability to pay utility bills online.

The city said in April that its computer operations had been restored. “The city did not lose control of its network as result of this incident, nor did it pay any criminals for any information,” the city said Tuesday in a statement.

City spokeswoman Coleen Haines said the forensic analysis determined that Social Security and driver license numbers of approximately 200 people, mostly former city employees, “may have been impacted as a result” of the breach.

The city is notifying those people, she said.

Kingman is insured against cyberattacks and obtained assistance from data privacy and cybersecurity specialists “for a very limited cost” that won’t be put on taxpayers, the city statement said.

The city has made technical and policy changes and enhanced training protocols “to mitigate any risk associated with this incident and to better prevent future incidents,” the statement said.

Payson police fatally shoot man in parking lot encounter

PAYSON — Payson police fatally shot a 31-year-old New Mexico man who allegedly had forced a woman into a vehicle at gunpoint early Tuesday in a supermarket parking lot, the police chief said.

The 27-year-old woman got out of the vehicle and was being escorted to a police car when the shooting occurred after the man also got out of the vehicle, Police Chief Ronald Tischer said in a statement.

The man “turned towards officers and made a motion as if he was drawing a weapon from his waistband,” Tischer said.

Officers then shot the man when he disregarded commands to stop and show his hands, Tischer added.

No identities were released but Tischer told The Associated Press in an email that the man and woman were acquaintances.

Payson is 70 miles east of Phoenix.


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