[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," GROWING HOSPITAL-BED OCCUPANCY RATES FORCING SOME SYSTEMS TO SUSPEND SURGERIES.

AND BATTLING PARKINSON'S DISEASE INSIDE OF RING.

THAT'S ALL AHEAD ON THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

MARICOPA COUNTY IS REPORTING ITS FIRST CASES OF THE OMICRON VARIANT OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

THOSE INFECTED RANGE IN AGE FROM THEIR LATE TEENS TOE 60S.

ALL SIX OF THOSE INFECTED ARE RECOVERING AT HOME.

75% OF ALL COVID-RELATED FATALITIES HAVE BEEN MOSTLY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED.

ARIZONA'S SEVEN-DAY DEATH RATE PER 100,000 PEOPLE IS NOW RANKED SECOND-HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

75 ICU BEDS ARE AVAILABLE STATEWIDE NOW.

THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN REPORTS THAT VALLEY WISE HEALTH SENT THIS MEMO: WE WILL HAVE MORE IN JUST A MOMENT.

NATIONAL NEWS THE GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY SAID THERE HAVE BEEN 74 CONFIRMED DEATHS FROM THE TORNADOS THAT DEVASTATED THE STATE.

>> OF THE ONES THAT WE KNOW, THE AGE -- AGE RANGE IS 5 MONTHS TO 86 YEARS, AND SIX ARE YOUNGER THAN 18.

HELP KEEPS POURING IN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.

WE FEEL YOUR LOVE HERE IN KENTUCKY.

>> THE GOVERNOR ADDED THAT 109 PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY ARE STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR.

>>> AND ECONOMIC NEWS, APPLE IS ABOUT TO BECOME THE FIRST $3 TRILLION COMPANY.

THAT COMES ONE YEAR AFTER APPLE PASSED THE $2 TRILLION ACCOUNT.

GOOGLE IS WORTH $2 TRILLION, AND AMAZON IS WORTH 1.7 TRILLION.

>>> SOME SURGERIES HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED DUE TO LACK OF HOSPITAL BEDS.

DOCTOR, IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

THE INFORMATION NOW IS REALLY REGARDING THE STATE OF HOSPITALS IN ARIZONA.

WHERE DO WE STAND RIGHT NOW?

>> WE STAND AT A VERY PRECARIOUS PLACE, TED.

WE HAVE ALREADY ENTERED A CRISIS.

WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT ELECTIVE PROCEDURES THAT ARE NECESSARY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING OR STATE CAPACITY IN TERMS OF BEDS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THOSE, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE GETTING YOUR GALLBLADDER OUT, OR SOME OF THESE ROUTINE PROCEDURES ARE BEING TO BE DELAYED.

>> YEAH, ARE OTHER HOSPITALS IN THE SAME SITUATION?

>> YES.

NO ONE IS IMMUNE TO THIS, AND IT'S PARTICULARLY IMPACTFUL, I THINK, IN RURAL ARIZONA WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE A LIMITATION OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE, AND WE'RE REALLY ON THE PRECIPICE RIGHT NOW, AND PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THE STANDARD CARE THAT THEY SHOULD GET, GIVEN THE FACT THAT OUR HOSPITAL CAPACITY IS BEING PUSHED BEYOND ITS LIMITS, AND I THINK WE EVEN HAD A FEW DAYS AGO -- PROBABLY A WEEK OR SO AGO, WHEN WE HAD MORE DEATHS ON THAT DAY THAN WE DID BEFORE WE HAD A VACCINE, SO WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT IN THE CLEAR.

>> WHAT WE'RE SEEING AT THE HOSPITALS NOW, ARE WE SEEING AN INCREASE IN COVID PATIENTS OR AN INCREASE IN PATIENTS THAT USUALLY HAPPENS AT THIS TIME OF YEAR?

>> I THINK WE'RE SEEING EVERYTHING WE USUALLY SEE, AND YOU HAVE 20 TO 30% MORE PATIENTS THAT ARE TAKING UP ENERGY AND RESOURCES, AND SO THOSE RESOURCES WHICH OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO ELECTIVE SURGERY, AND EVEN KEEPING PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL, NOW WE'RE DISMISSING.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS WAS PRE-PANDEMIC, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WHERE WE'RE DISCHARGING THOSE PATIENTS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF RESOURCES.

>> AND HOW MANY ARE UNVACCINATED?

>> I THINK IT'S USUALLY GREATER THAN 80%.

AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS FOR ARIZONA, IF YOU ARE UNVACCINATED, YOU ARE 15 TIMES AT A HIGHER RISK OF DIEING IF YOU ARE UNVACCINATED AND YOU HAPPEN TO GET AN INFECTION, AND SO THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, THE MESSAGE IS TO GET VACCINATED.

BUT ALSO THERE IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH MITIGATION MEASURE.

TED, WHAT WE HAVE, AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING WHAT RIGHT NOW, THE FACT THAT IT IS WORSE, THAT IS TRAGIC.

BECAUSE WE KNOW MASK AND VAK MAKES -- VACCINATIONS WORK, AND THAT IS A TRAGEDY.

>> AND ANOTHER TRAGIC SITUATION IS HOW IT IS EFFECTING OLDER PATIENTS, COVID PATIENTS, HOW MANY OF THOSE PATIENTS ARE SENIORS?

>> IT IS DEFINITELY A PROPORTIONATELY HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF FOLKS WHO ARE SENIORS, HOWEVER, IT TENDS TO BE TRENDING YOUNGER AND YOUNGER, AND WHAT IS PROTECTING OLDER FOLKS IS BECAUSE MORE ARE VACCINATED, BUT FOR THOSE WHO UNFORTUNATELY DO GET THE VIRUS AND A GETTING HOSPITALIZE ED, IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.

>> AND THIS IS HEADING INTO FLU AND RESPIRATORY ILLNESS SEASON, ALONG WITH THE WILD-CARD OF THIS NEW VARIANT, WHICH WE DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE KNOW IT IS A BIT MORE TRANSMISSIONABLE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW SEVERE IT IS GOING TO BE.

WE HAVE ALSO SEEN A LOT OF CASES AROUND THE WORLD WHERE PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED AROUND THE WORLD, BUT IT HAS BEEN MILDER.

SO WE STILL DON'T KNOW.

WE KNOW HIGH QUALITY MASKS, REALLY MAKE THE MOST SENSE IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN AN INDOOR SETTING.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU WALK AROUND, NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE WEARING MASKS, SO WE'RE NOT DOING OUR PART HERE IN ARIZONA.

SO IT IS PREVENTABLE, RIGHT?

>> ALL RIGHT.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>>> UP NEXTS I # [ TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES ] >>> CAN YOU GET THAT DETAILED?

>> THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THIS TECHNOLOGY.

THIS HAS BEEN ON THE MARKET PLACE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, BUT NOW THE DATA WE HAVE RECEIVED, WE HAVE DATA COMING FORM ABOUT 4 TO 6% OF TOTAL NUMBER OF CARS IN OUR REGION, SO THAT IS A BIG SAMPLE.

AND ANOTHER THING IS WE USED TO ONLY COLLECT THE DATA FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, BUT RIGHT NOW IT COMES IN 24/7, AND WE CAN STACK THAT DATA TOGETHER.

>> AND OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD HELP WITH TRAFFIC SIGNALS I WOULD IMAGINE.

>> YES, THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IN OUR REGION WE HAVE ABOUT 3800 LOCATIONS.

WE USED TO STRUGGLE TO GET THAT KIND OF TECHNOLOGY, AND NOW WE'RE ABLE TO RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION FROM ALMOST ALL OF THEM IN, AND IT CAN GIVE YOU MUCH MORE INFORMATION.

SO YOU COULD POTENTIALLY EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT TRAFFIC DELAYS, AND EVEN WHERE DO PEOPLE STOP WAITING TO TURN.

>> THAT IS FASCINATING, AND I WOULD HOPE IT WOULD HELP WITH CONSTRUCTION ZONES AS WELL.

>> YES, AND THE DATA WE USED TO ARE MAY NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE TO US.

>> YES THIS FOUNDS FASCINATING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND TELLING US ABOUT IT.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> YOU BET.

>>> A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY TEMPE HAS MUSICIANS IN REREQUIRE REREQUIRE -- RETIREMENT FACILITY.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> THIS IS A BRAND NEW RETIREMENT COMMUNITY ON THE CORNER OF ARIZONA CAMPUS.

MOST ARE RETIRED.

BUT THEY ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE REALLIED ON THE CAMPUS AS WELL.

>> AND IT ALSO INCLUDES A MUSICIANS IN RESIDENTS PROGRAM.

>> YES.

THEY SELECTED SOME MUSICIANS IN RESIDENCE, AND WE PERFORM LIKE PERFORMANCES PER WEEK, AND WE TEACH AS WELL.

>> AND YOU ARE A GUITAR PLAYER, AND ARE YOU PERFORMING OR TEACHING OR COLLABORATING.

>> YES.

I AM A MUSIC THERAPIST, AND I HAVE BEEN REALLY ENJOYS LEARNING THE GUITAR, AND I'M PLAY AND SING FOR THE RESIDENTS.

AND THIS AFTERNOON, ACTUALLY, WE'RE GOING TO PERFORMANCE THE RESIDENCE CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCE.

>> IS THERE A STAGE?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS WE CAN PERFORM IN.

THERE IS A STAGE, AND THEY LEARN IT FOR ASU EVENTS, AND THERE ARE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES AND DIFFERENT EVENTS.

>> OKAY.

SO YOU HAVE GOT A PLACE AND YOU GET TO STAY THERE AND CONTINUE YOUR STUDIES.

>> YES.

>> AND IF I WERE LIVING THERE, COULD YOU TEACH ME GUITAR?

>> YEAH, ONE OF THE STUDENTS GIVES PIANO LESSONS WEEKLY, AND I HAVE BEEN EXCHANGING IDEAS WITH A GUITARIST THAT I PLAY WITH, AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

>> AND YOU HAVE BEEN STUDYING MUSIC THERAPY, YES.

HOW DO YOU SEE THAT PLAYING OUT TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING?

>> I SEE IT AS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FUTURE.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STILL IN -- YOU KNOW, IN THE LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE, SO THINGS ARE MORE SIMPLE, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO ENGAGE WITH THE RESIDENTS.

>> AND DO YOU SEE FOLKS -- IT HAS TO LIFT THEIR SPIRITS -- >> OH, YEAH.

THEY LOVE IT.

THEY -- I HAVE A GROUP THAT COMES EVERY TIME I PERFORM, AND IT'S REALLY COOL TO LIVE IN THAT SORT OF ENVIRONMENT, AND I FEEL REALLY HONORED TO BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

>> WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED -- WAS THIS SOMETHING YOU WERE RECRUITED TO DO OR DID YOU HAVE TO APPLY.

>> SURE.

I WAS TOLD ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY.

AND THERE WAS AN APPLICATION PROCESS, AND WE SENT IN VIDEOS, I WAS ON A PROGRAM WHERE I WORK WITH THE OLDER POPULATION ARE ALREADY.

AND SO I FELT LIKE I HAD A LOT OF SKILLS TO BRING TO THIS PROGRAM.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE QUITE A PROGRAM.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS.

AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> COMING UP ON CRONKITE NEWS, ANOTHER LOOK AT HOW VALLEY HOSPITALS ARE DEALING WITH AN INCREASE THIS COVID PATIENTS, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, A DISCUSSION ON IMPOSTER SYNDROME.

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