The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday passed a bill that opponents say will lead to increased civil litigation against employers. 

At issue was HB 2043, a bill sponsored by state Rep. Quang Nguyen, R-Prescott, which would allow an employee to recover no less than $500,000 if their employer denied a religious exemption and required the employee to receive a Covid-19 vaccination as a condition of their employment and the person suffered a significant injury.

A representative of the Arizona Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce & Industry says the state’s workers’ compensation system already offers employees an avenue to address claims against employers, while existing state and federal statutes protect against religious discrimination.  According to bill opponents, Nguyen’s legislation risks encouraging more civil lawsuits.

“We are opposed to this or any other legislation that would provide for a private right of action outside of the workers’ compensation program,” Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ Vice President of Government Affairs Courtney Coolidge said. “Legislation that provides a new way to sue businesses is a step backwards.”

Mike Huckins, vice president of public affairs for the Greater Phoenix Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­, agreed, saying the legislation contradicted legislation passed into law last year intended to limit pandemic-related liability. 

“The bill passed last year was reasonable and a model for the country and we should be proud of it,” Huckins said. “Businesses are each individually doing the best they can to protect their employees.”

But Rep. Nguyen disagreed.

“This is not about whether you should take the vaccine or not,” Nguyen said. “There is no one in this room or in the business community that is going to tell me what goes in my body, what goes on with my soul, and how legitimate my religion is.”

Tom Savage, testifying on behalf of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, said the bill’s attempt to link the denial of a religious belief and a potential adverse health outcome was unclear.

“The bill is confusing (in) that it tends to relate the two,” Savage said. “Religious exemption is not related to the potential health concerns from Covid-19 vaccines.”

Barbara Jennings testified in favor of the bill. 

“I think this bill is so important because right now we lack anything to protect employees,” Jennings said. “We see now that these jabs make no difference. People will never feel the pain if they are not held accountable.”

to the Arizona Department of Health Services, the unvaccinated are 17.5 times more likely to be hospitalized and 31.1 times more likely to die from Covid-19 than the fully vaccinated. 

HB 2043 and bills like it this legislative session sponsored by Republicans have resulted in strange political bedfellows, with Republicans siding with interest groups and activists that traditionally advocate for greater governmental control over workplace policies. 

The American Tort Reform Association, the nation’s leading civil justice reform group, has noted the flip-flop by lawmakers who are usually resistant to efforts to create new avenues to litigation.

“Conservative lawmakers traditionally oppose such liability-expanding initiatives, but in this case they’re leading the charge,” ATRA President Tiger Joyce wrote in an opinion in The Wall Street Journal. “It’s regrettable to see past proponents of civil-justice reform take such a turn. America is already litigious enough.”

The U.S. Supreme Court earlier this month blocked an attempt by the Biden administration to require employers of 100 more employees to require their employees to be vaccinated or be subjected to regular testing. Facing long odds of success in the lower courts if the administration were to continue to press its case, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Monday withdrew its proposed rule.

“Just as we didn’t want the federal government to tell employers how to run their businesses, we don’t want state government to tell employers what their policies ought to be, either,” Coolidge said.

The bill passed 5-4, with all of the committee Republicans supporting the bill and all the Democrats opposing.

Groups opposing the bill included the state chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business, Arizona Academy Of Family Physicians, the Health System Alliance of Arizona, the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association, and chambers of commerce from across the Valley and Flagstaff.

The bill heads to the Rules Committee and will then be considered by each party’s caucus before it’s taken up by the full House of Representatives.

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Arizona’s top public health official spoke with the business community last week about the Covid vaccine rollout in the state and recommendations for bringing workers back to the office. 

Vaccines are the key to getting back to normalcy, said Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS), who spoke to employers last week at an event hosted by the Arizona Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce & Industry. 

Limited supplies are arriving weekly to the state, and CEOs, managers and team members should get vaccinated as soon as they are able and share their experiences with employees, Christ said.

“Talk confidently about the vaccine. Get the vaccine and share your experience,” said Christ, who added that few people experience side effects and the shot is less painful than a flu shot. “The vaccine is safe and effective. Encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they can.”  

At the virtual event, Christ talked about what businesses and other organizations can expect in the next few months. 

Among her key points:

Supply expected to meet demand by April 

Arizona has vaccinated more than 1.2 million people. Around 150,000 vaccine doses are arriving into the state weekly and the new Johnson and Johnson one-dose vaccine is expected to start arriving in small quantities in March. The vaccination is 87 percent effective, a higher rate than the flu vaccine, Christ said. 

Currently, all counties have moved into the second phase of six vaccination phases, Phase 1B. In Phase IB, people 65 and older may receive vaccinations. Essential employees and the general public will follow over the next two months. 

In Phase 1B, counties will be prioritizing populations based on risk. Teachers and childcare workers are among those who will be at the front of the line. Other essential workers like restaurants and food service will follow. 

Finally, the general public under 65 years old could see vaccines available as soon as next month. In April, the state should be able to meet all demand, Christ said. By June, everyone who is going to get a vaccine should be immunized.  

Employers of essential employees can fill out vaccine request 

Essential frontline workers will be vaccinated in Phase 1B and 1C as vaccine availability increases statewide.

Employers with essential employees who have not done so may complete the

so counties can notify them as vaccines become available. 

Also, large employers may contact their respective counties to set up on-site vaccination programs when they become available, Christ said. 

Anyone may also register for an appointment on the state website and may get vaccinated at a location near them. Many health care providers and pharmacies including CVS and Walgreens are offering vaccinations as doses become available. 

Continue to take precautions, follow requirements for capacity

While Covid case numbers, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and ventilations are down, positivity rates are still not where they should be, Christ said. 

Current positivity rates in the state are at 6.9 percent, well below the peak of 24.4 percent in December. For the virus to be considered well under control, health officials recommend it stay below 5 percent for at least two weeks. 

For that reason, businesses are still required to take measures to protect the public. Certain industries like restaurants, gyms, theaters, and water parks are required to limit capacity. To see requirements and recommendations for specific businesses, visit: . 

For now, all employers are advised to continue to take all precautions to protect their employees and customers including wearing masks, sanitizing frequently and not coming to work when ill, Christ said. 

For employers considering moving remote workers back to the office, Christ said she would like to see “low-moderate or minimal spread” in the community with low positivity and hospitalization rates. 

“We know Covid is still circulating and want to make sure even if you are vaccinated or around other people vaccinated to still wear masks,” Christ said. 

Vaccinations are opening up in phases 

Vaccines are being administered in six phases:

Phase 1A – Healthcare workers and healthcare support occupations, emergency medical services workers, long-term care facility staff and residents

Priority Phase 1B – Education and childcare workers, protective services occupations, adults 65 and older and remaining 1A populations

Phase 1B – Essential services and critical industry workers, adults with high-risk conditions in congregate settings, and remaining 1A and prioritized 1B populations

Phase 1C – Adults of any age with high-risk medical conditions, adults living in congregate settings, and remaining 1A and 1B populations

Phase 2 – Additional high-risk and critical populations, general public and remaining phase 1 populations

Phase 3 – General public and remaining phase 1 and 2 populations

More vaccination appointments opening this month  

Currently, all appointments are filled right now but more openings are expected at the end of February and beginning of March, Christ said.

About 500 provider sites are administering vaccines and anyone wishing to get vaccinated can register on the state at the DHS interactive site at . If anyone does not have the technology to register or make an appointment online, they can call 1-844-542-8201 and receive assistance in English or Spanish. 

Many health care providers and doctors as well as pharmacies including Walgreens, CVS, Fry’s and Safeway are administering vaccines as they come in. 

Christ said the impressive rollout of vaccines could not have been possible without the  health care partners “who have really stepped up to provide vaccinations” and other services.

“This is a team effort. A week ago we were below 50 percent utilization. Now we’re at 80 percent,” she said. “We’re hoping where eventually everyone can find a vaccine in their normal location or with their normal health care provider.”

For frequently asked questions about where to get a vaccine, visit:

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

As Arizona progresses through the phased vaccination process, public health officials recommend everyone continue to:

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
• It is especially important to clean hands after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
• Check if your hand sanitizer has been recalled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA maintains anof hand sanitizers that consumers should avoid due to possible toxic effects. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay at home when you are sick.
• Avoid close contact (within six feet) with others.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) and immediately throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Wear masks in public settings if they can be safely managed.
• If you are at higher risk for severe illness, you should avoid attending congregate settings. People at higher risk for severe illness include adults 65 or older and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.

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As Covid-19 continues to take its toll on Arizonans’ health and impact hospital capacity, many citizens have no plans to get immunized even though an effective vaccine is available, recent indicate. 

That’s alarming to the medical community and business groups that came together this week to discuss the economic impacts of getting vaccinated — or not. 

Vaccines are one of the nation’s most important “economic development” tools to prevent the societal and financial costs that come with disease outbreaks, said Arizona economist Jim Rounds, who spoke at the event entitled, How Vaccines Impact Arizona’s Economy. 

“That’s the most cost effective, highest return on investment, economic development project we have ever seen in this country and it has to do with distribution of vaccines,” Rounds said.

AZBio () and a coalition of health and community organizations hosted the discussion to highlight the importance of vaccines to the state’s health and welfare. 

Fifteen medical and business organizations sponsored the event including the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Arizona Academy of Family Physicians, Arizona Nurses Association, Arizona Medical Association, Arizona Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce & Industry, Children’s Action Alliance, Grand Canyon University, and Greater Phoenix Leadership.

Duration of economic recovery depends on vaccination rates

To put the pandemic’s economic impact in perspective, Rounds compared the pandemic recession with the Great Recession of 2008-09. 

About 7 million jobs were lost in the Great Recession. More than three times that amount, 22 million, were lost during the height of the Covid recession last year.  

Arizona is seeing quicker recovery than other states when it comes to jobs, he said. But certain groups, particularly low-income individuals, are disproportionately affected by the recession, he said.  

“A recession ends when the vaccine is widely distributed,” Rounds said.

To achieve full economic recovery this year, the state will need to vaccinate 20,000 to 30,000 people daily, he said. Currently, only about 8,000 a day are being vaccinated.  

Human and financial costs of not getting vaccinated

Of concern is a growing anti-vaccination movement that is largely based on misinformation, Rounds said. 

Arizona already has one of the lowest childhood vaccination rates, which is “unacceptable,” he said.

“We need to rely on science and research, not dogma,” he said. 

To illustrate the human and financial costs of not getting vaccinated, Rounds referred to research by the Centers for Disease Control that estimates that among children born in the last 20 years, vaccinations prevented more than 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths.

Another study by the American Academy of Pediatrics on children born in 2009 revealed that compliance with the recommended vaccine schedule would represent $68.8 billion in savings to society, Rounds said.

“The Covid-19 pandemic is a reminder that we have to be diligent with getting information out there and we have to continue to advance science and research to attack these problems.”

Other speakers at the event were: 

• Chandler physician Dr. Andrew Carroll talked about his experience treating hospitalized Covid patients and the importance of vaccines in eradicating disease. 
• Phyllis Arthur, vice president of infectious diseases and diagnostics policy for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization in Washington, D.C., detailed the race by companies like Pfizer and Moderna to roll out hundreds of millions more doses in the next few months.  

To view the entire presentation, go to:

Fifteen health and business organizations sponsored the event including:

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Governor Doug Ducey’s seventh State of the State address was delivered under the most difficult circumstances the state and nation have faced during his tenure as governor.

The January 6 invasion of the United States Capitol, something that hasn’t happened since 1814 when the U.S. was at war with Britain, shocked all Americans.

The country is in the grips of a pandemic that has spared no state its wrath, including Arizona. More than 10,000 Arizonans have lost their lives to this terrible disease.

The task before the governor was to convey a message that all Arizonans, regardless of political affiliation, age, or zip code could unite around. He delivered. The governor used his speech to present a thoughtful, soberminded policy response to the pandemic that has affected every facet of life in Arizona.

Vaccines

Job 1 is to ensure the vaccines get into the arms of as many Arizonans as quickly as possible. The state is rolling out the vaccine to sites urban and rural, including a massive 24/7 site at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Thanks to the healthcare professionals whose work over the past year has been nothing short of heroic, as many as 6,000 Arizonans each day will get a jab in the arm at that location alone (including my mom, who just got her first dose).

Liability protections

The governor and legislative leaders are rightly focused on restoring Arizona’s health. But there are some, unfortunately, who would choose to use this period as a chance to make a quick buck.

The Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ agrees strongly with Gov. Ducey that this statewide emergency shouldn’t be leveraged by trial lawyers to file frivolous Covid exposure lawsuits. Employers large and small, cities and town, schools and universities, hospitals and healthcare providers, and nonprofits that are responsibly adhering to all applicable public health protocols should be lauded, not punished. We’ll be leading the coalition to ensure a smartly tailored liability protection bill gets to the governor’s desk, just as other states have done with bipartisan support.

Economic recovery

Not only is the governor focused on restoring Arizona’s health, but he also wants to ensure Arizona bounces back strongly from the pandemic-induced economic downturn.

We’re in better shape than much of the country, but there is still work to do. Our important hospitality sector, for example, is still struggling. Small businesses have been particularly hard hit. Not only are they grappling with the fallout of the pandemic, but many of them could be hit with one of the highest small business taxes in the country due to the narrow passage of Proposition 208 in November.

The new tax is facing a legal challenge due to its apparent violation of the revenue expenditure limit in the state constitution, something the nonpartisan Legislative Council identified before petition signatures were gathered. If the tax stands, though, it will only reinforce the need to “think big” on tax reform this year, as the governor said.

Just as the governor and the Legislature have been able to count on the Arizona Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ to lead the business community in previous efforts to enhance Arizona’s competitiveness, we’re ready to roll up our sleeves on tax reform in 2021.

Education

The pandemic has also dramatically affected Arizona’s school-aged kids. From Kindergarten to higher education, too many students haven’t been inside a classroom since last March.

Some families have been able to adapt with online learning or have pivoted to charter schools, private schools, homeschool pods, or have taken advantage of other options on the state’s school choice menu. For many families, however, the pandemic’s effect on their child’s education has meant nothing but frustration and worry.

The governor wants to help, and so do we.

In 2021, we’re ready to partner with Gov. Ducey and the Legislature to bridge the digital divide exacerbated by the pandemic, as well as ensure there are resources to support kids who’ve fallen behind academically. We look forward to building on our record of a relentless pursuit of increased funding for education as evidenced by our support for initiatives like the 20×2020 teacher pay raise plan, Proposition 123’s infusion of $3.5 billion from the state Land Trust into the K-12 system, the Results Based Funding plan to reward schools producing outstanding results, and more.

As a result of our efforts and the hard work of Gov. Ducey and the state Legislature, Arizona is now spending more on K-12 education on a per-pupil basis from all sources than at any time in the state’s history.

Like Gov. Ducey, what we cannot support, however, is an erosion of school choices. Due to the educational disruptions wrought by the pandemic, many parents are taking advantage of the choices Arizona affords for the very first time. These options have proven a lifesaver for some families. We should increase Arizona’s choices, not roll them back. For example, the governor has identified transportation an area ripe to help increase choice.

Similarly, we will continue to champion accountability for educational dollars. Employers have demonstrated a willingness and desire to back increased funding for education, but they expect results and wise stewardship.

The governor and Legislature begin their work in 2021 amid significant challenges. But thanks to the deployment of lifesaving vaccines and with more in the pipeline, each day is a little bit brighter. No matter what happens this legislative session from a policymaking perspective, let’s heed Gov. Ducey’s counsel to approach this year with a spirit of unity and compassion.

Glenn Hamer is president and CEO of the Arizona Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce and Industry. 

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Getting Arizona vaccinated, bringing students back up to speed academically and keeping the economy open were key tenets of Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s message during his 2021 State of the State address Monday.

The governor called on citizens to continue guarding against the spread of the virus and to work together with “unity, integrity and compassion.”

“In so many ways, 2020 was an extremely tough year that brought out the best in us, and yet, sometimes, despite all, our best wasn’t enough,” the governor said on opening day of the state Legislature. “It’s a vicious virus taking some 10,000 lives in our state alone and it’s left nothing but grief in its path.

“With the vaccine, however, we aim to cut off that path as quickly as possible.”

Ducey said that healthcare workers, teachers and police officers were being vaccinated as he spoke. He announced that State Farm Stadium in Glendale opened Monday as a vaccine site and will continue to be open 24/7 to administer vaccines as they are rolled out in phases according to patient risk. Above all, everyone must continue to take precautions to stop the spread of the deadly virus so the state can return to normal.

“As for our work here, all agree the pandemic remains the most significant threat we face, and it will require vigilant attention for months to come. The risk is still serious, and so is the pressure on our hospitals and medical personnel.”

During the 22-minute speech, Ducey touched on several issues he is focused on for 2021. 

Keep economy open

Arizona already is doing better than the rest of the nation, in part because he didn’t enforce widespread lockdowns, Ducey said. 

“For Americans tired of living in states with high taxes, heavy regulation, low-growth, and fading opportunity, Arizona has become the destination,” Ducey said. “And they’re still coming to Arizona in 2021 because during the pandemic, we never took our small businesses or their workers for granted. 

“As bad as things got, we’re recovering fast. New businesses and residents have been added by the thousands. At this time last year, we were ahead of 45 other states in job creation and personal income growth. Today, we’re still top-five. But some Arizonans are struggling. And it’s got to be our priority to help them with a growing economy and more jobs.”

Proponents of severe lockdowns may be well intentioned but they fail to acknowledge other troubles that come into play with such drastic action, he said. 

“People still have bills to pay. Children in need of schooling. Businesses to run and employees who depend on them. There are lots of men and women who don’t have the option of remote work and don’t receive uninterrupted direct deposits. To make a living they have to show up somewhere.

“If we’re really all in this together, then we have to appreciate that for many families, lockdown spells catastrophe. Zero income. Inability to make a payment. Eviction. Foreclosure. And real personal anguish.”

More resources for education

Ducey emphasized the need to ensure students haven’t fallen behind academically, particularly those of lower socioeconomic means. 

The governor said he will advocate for more resources in the state budget for items like expanded broadband infrastructure and access, more educational choices for parents, longer school days, summer school, one-on-one targeted instruction and tutoring. 

He will bring students back into classrooms as teachers are vaccinated. 

“With every public-health professional, from Dr. Fauci and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) on down, saying that the safest place for kids to be is in school, we will not be funding empty seats or allowing schools to remain in a perpetual state of closure. Children still need to learn, even in a pandemic.”

Lower taxes for all 

Tax reform is needed to find ways to lower taxes on businesses and individuals, the governor said. 

“Every year I’ve been governor, we’ve improved income taxes in the taxpayer’s favor. We’ve simplified the code, lowered all rates, protected them against inflation, and eliminated an entire tax bracket. In all of this, we’ve proven that our government can fulfill every obligation, and answer the unexpected needs of a growing state, without raising taxes.”

Having come this far, Ducey said he has no interest in Arizona following the “depressing example” of other states losing opportunity because they have raised the tax burden

Other issues: Covid liability protection, gaming, smaller state government

In the coming weeks, the governor said he will work with legislators on a variety of goals: protections for businesses and organizations from frivolous lawsuits related to Covid-19, a modernized gaming compact to bring more revenues to tribes and the state, and greater access to telemedicine. 

Other goals mentioned were better roads and bridges, continued leadership on water innovation, better training for law enforcement, criminal justice reform, and wildfire prevention. 

Ducey said shrinking the “footprint of government” also offers cost savings. 

“With remote working by many state employees, we also have the chance to further limit the size, cost and footprint of government,” he said. “Let’s truly shrink government, by eliminating unnecessary state buildings and saving taxpayer dollars, so we can prioritize areas of need, like educating our kids, taking care of our sick, and keeping our neighborhoods safe.”

“Plenty of reasons to cheer”

Business community leaders hailed Ducey’s agenda.

“Today’s speech gave us plenty of reasons to cheer,” Arizona Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Glenn Hamer . “The agenda laid out by Gov. Ducey was full of items the Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ and job creators look forward to working on with him and legislators from both parties. We share his desire to close academic achievement gaps, to protect parents’ right to choose the best educational environment for their kids, to continue the economic recovery by reforming our tax code to encourage job growth, to prevent plaintiffs attorneys from leveraging the pandemic for financial gain, and to expand broadband, which is essential for our continued economic development and our students and schools.” 

Working together with compassion and integrity 

Moving forward in a bipartisan manner with unity, integrity and compassion is extremely important right now, the governor said. 

So many Arizonans have been true heroes this past year, he said. Everyone must follow their lead.  

“Despite everything 2020 threw at us, in the face of a global pandemic, everyday Arizonans have demonstrated the true state of our state– from our frontline medical workers; teachers, moms and dads; public safety and first responders; small business people; Election Day workers; grocery store employees, and National Guard – we’ve seen heroism, sacrifice, service and acts of kindness, large and small. The state of our state is not only strong – it’s resilient.”

In closing, the governor called on the public to do it’s part: wear a mask, practice personal responsibility.

“With resilience and compassion, we move forward, allowing nothing to get in our way, and showing in the end the best kind of unity there is – the unity of caring about one another.”
For information about how vaccinations are being administered, go to: .

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At the end of each year, Arizona Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Glenn Hamer hands out his Ham(m)er Awards to recognize the people and groups who contributed in a big way to the year that was. This year’s edition looks back on a year that was unlike any other.

Hit by a once-in-a-century pandemic that created an instant economic worldwide collapse, and soon after racial unrest triggered by the tragic murder of George Floyd, it’s fair to say that 2020 has been a tough year. We’ve lost more than one out of every one thousand Americans to the virus, we’re still down more than 10 million jobs and there’s continued social unease. 

But these difficulties brought out the best in many of us and that’s the focus of this year’s Hammers.

The public health heroes

Let’s start with the obvious. No group is more deserving of recognition than the frontline healthcare workers who have worked nonstop despite near-constant personal danger to keep us well and to educate us on what we should do to keep well. Our hospitals, including Banner, Honor Health, Dignity (CommonSpirit Health), Mayo and others have been working overtime on top of overtime. 

I want to especially call out Dr. Cara Christ for leading Arizona’s response. If you want the definition of an impossible and thankless job, it’s leading a state health agency during a pandemic.

A Hammer Award also goes to Dr. Amish Shah, an E.R. doc who is also a state representative. His blog posts early in the pandemic provided crucial information to the general public.

State Rep. Lorenzo Sierra deserves a Hammer for his deeply personal account of his harrowing battle with Covid that he shared in USA Today and with media outlets across the country.

Our universities stepped up massively. Led by Dr. Michael Crow, Arizona State University developed an easy and effective  for Covid that was a welcome alternative for those who don’t like something stuck up their nose. Dr. Bobby Robbins, a distinguished medical doctor, developed several efforts to assist in the pandemic, including a huge  to store vaccines. NAU stepped up under the direction of Dr. Rita Cheng as well, lending needed  in the development of vaccines. 

Testing. Testing. Testing. Kudos and a Hammer to Dave Dexter and Sonora Quest for rapidly developing the leading  for Arizonans. Testing remains critical to controlling the spread and we’re fortunate to have a major testing lab based in Arizona. 

Speaking of testing, A.P. Powell deserves a Hammer for setting up testing sites in underserved communities. A.P. also used his Bridge Forum to promote much needed dialogue between neighborhood leaders and senior law enforcement leadership. 

Our friends at Vitalant deserve a Hammer for their continuous efforts to encourage blood and plasma donations. Vitalant’s work is always essential, but in 2020 it was absolutely critical to help the scientific community learn more about Covid antibodies and convalescent plasma. Plus, they’ve ensured that blood donations can continue safely.

Frontline workers. The men and women who work in our grocery stores, serve our coffee and keep America running deserve our deepest thanks…and more. Many months ago, Peggy Noonan wrote that those who are undocumented who are keeping the gears of the American economy turning should be put on a track to citizenship. I agree. 

Over the air

Arizona’s media outlets have been essential partners in getting information out to the public throughout the pandemic.

Day in and day out, KTAR’s Jim Cross has been a go-to source for useful news about the pandemic’s impact on the state and national economies. The consummate workhorse, Jim was deservedly part of the . In addition to joining the Hall of Fame, he deserves a Hammer. I’ll let him decide which is the more flattering honor. 

ABC 15’s Garrett Archer, the Data Guru, boils down the flood of data from the state Department of Health Services into easy-to-follow daily digests. He points out positive and negative trends, avoids alarmist reporting, but also gives this crisis we’re living through the seriousness it deserves. He’s also relied on his years of experience as a congressional aide, campaign hand, and Secretary of State’s Office staffer to help us understand all there is to know about ballot counting. 

It’s also worth noting that AzDHS has done yeoman’s work in providing the public a wealth of information. I’m looking forward to seeing a daily tracker in 2021 on the number of vaccinations given across the state.

Crisis response

The Paycheck Protection Program is the most successful small business program ever developed or administered in the history of the country. The relatively smooth administration happened because multiple parties in Arizona stepped up in a major way. 

A Hammer Award goes to Paul Hickman, the head of the Arizona Bankers Association, for leading the charge. His organization was in regular contact with Capitol Hill and his member institutions were essential in getting the funds flowing to small businesses that desperately needed the help.

A Hammer also goes to David Adame of Chicanos Por La Causa for helping to save thousands of jobs through Prestamos, a Community Development Financial Institution, which issues microloans to struggling small businesses in underserved communities.

More than 80,000 Arizona companies secured over $8.5 billion in largely forgivable loans. A new round is on its way. I want to thank the U.S. Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce for the fantastic materials it distributed on PPP and other relief for businesses that have now been downloaded a billion times. 

A Hammer goes to Sandra Watson and her entire team at the Arizona Commerce Authority for putting together comprehensive programming for small businesses on how to navigate the pandemic. I believe that Sandra is the best economic development professional in America. The proof? During a pandemic it was announced that  would come to Arizona. This news would be eclipsed in the evening of the same day when it was announced that  would invest more than $12 billion and bring nearly 2,000 jobs to Arizona, the biggest deal in our state’s history. 

Sandra was charged with leading the Arizona Together fund, the business community’s response to the pandemic. This fund chaired by Eileen Klein has distributed millions of dollars in aid. Many donors deserve credit. Special recognition goes to Catherine Ivy of the Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation for her generous $5 million donation and to Michael Bidwill for being the first to contribute seven figures. 

Speaking of the economy, a Hammer goes to Jim Rounds and the crew at Rounds Consulting Group for their outstanding work to help industries of all types not only understand the impact the pandemic has had on the Arizona economy, but also what policymakers can do to help Arizona recover in a position of strength.

A Hammer goes to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema for hosting weekly conference calls with the business community during the early stages of the pandemic. These practical calls helped to ensure that Arizona businesses were well represented in Washington when it came to Covid relief. She delivered. 

Kim Sabow and the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association deserve a Hammer Award for rolling out the best safety program on the market. The AZSAFE + CLEAN hotel certification program is the model that can be used for other industries. Kim’s industry was hit first and worst, so credit to her for leading her industry through the most difficult period ever.

Globalization is good. A Hammer goes to Pfizer (U.S.) and BioNTech (Germany) for developing the world’s first widely distributed vaccine. Clocking in at 95% effectiveness using mRNA technology, the vaccine provides hope that other illnesses (cancer) will ultimately benefit. The key is to get as many people as possible vaccinated and as quickly as possible. The U.S. is leading the world in doses administered, with Israel leading on a per capita basis. The Trump administration deserves tremendous credit for developing Operation Warp Speed. Many experts said a speedy, safe vaccine was not possible. They were wrong. To have multiple vaccines at around 95% efficacy hit the market in less than one year is the accomplishment of this century. 

Speaking of private sector contributors stepping up to meet a global need, Honeywelldeserves a Hammer Award for its lightning-fast turnaround of its Arizona production lines to crank out millions of N95 masks. The effort was so impressive that it earned a factory visit from President Trump. Honeywell’s work in 2020 wasn’t a nice-to-have, it was must-have, and it was an inspiring display of American ingenuity and invention. 

The Hammer Award for Model Bipartisanship goes to Gov. Doug Ducey and State Superintendent Kathy Hoffman for joining together to provide smart, healthy and at times politically courageous guidance to keep our K-12 system running. Our teachers and school staff members all deserve big thanks for ensuring our kids have a safe place to go during this most disruptive period.

There’s no I in team

I’m very fortunate to have served under excellent board chairs throughout my tenure at the Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­, and this year was no exception.

We started out 2020 with Susan Anable at the helm, who was completing her second year with the gavel, which itself was unusual because our chairs usually rotate every year. But Susan didn’t bat an eye when the board asked her to take on a second year. No one knew then that the business community would be entering its most challenging year ever, but Susan took on the challenge with her usual aplomb and helped shift the Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ into crisis response. I should also recognize her company, Cox, which has proven to be an indispensable partner in helping thousands of Arizona kids learn remotely and folks like me work from home.

In June, we welcomed Dawn Grove as our board chair. Dawn’s a longtime Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ member and is recognized nationally and globally as a leader in manufacturing policy with a razor-sharp legal mind. An executive with Karsten Manufacturing, the parent company of PING, few have Dawn’s insight into what makes Arizona’s manufacturing environment one of the country’s most competitive. The fact that Arizona now has more manufacturing jobs than construction jobs is in no small part thanks to Dawn’s contributions over the years. As we turn our attention to the great Arizona economic recovery of 2021, the Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ board couldn’t ask for a better business leader. 

Finally, a Hammer Award to each team member at the Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­, Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ Foundation and Arizona Manufacturers Council. Our last regular day in the office was in mid-March. They didn’t miss a beat. The team assembled regular virtual meetings with our colleagues across the business community; presented dozens of webinars for small businesses to access relief funds; shifted each of our regularly scheduled events online; coordinated dozens of video calls for our members with leaders in government, business and academia; launched a  with the Arizona Medical Association to help businesses keep their employees and customers safe and healthy; issued  on big issues; and even cranked out a regular YouTube show on news of the day (that sometimes as many as dozens enjoy!). To top it all off, they kept me and my schedule in one piece as I shifted to mostly working from home.

I would not want to repeat 2020, but I’m thankful for my colleagues at the Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ who made lemonade out of a year full of lemons.

We’re in the final months of what has been a lethal pandemic. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Please be safe and get the vaccine as soon as it’s your turn. 2020 has been tough. There’s potential for 2021 to be the year we vanquish Covid-19 and begin a new and robust expansion. Let’s make it happen.

Glenn Hamer is president and CEO of the Arizona Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce and Industry. 

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Two months ago, Arizona and the rest of the country were mired in a backlog of hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 tests. 

Test results were taking weeks to process and laboratories and government officials were facing public criticism.

In Arizona, Dave Dexter, the president and CEO of Sonora Quest Laboratories, the largest diagnostic lab in the state, attended a meeting with state public health officials who asked for what seemed like the “impossible”: The production of 60,000 COVID-19 tests a day.

“I had no idea how we could possibly get to 60,000 a day, so I went home and had what I call one of my white wine nights in my career — this is my 21st year as CEO and I have the battle scars to prove it,” said Dexter, who to Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ about the company’s sprint to place Arizona at the forefront of testing in the nation. “But through those experiences, I’ve learned there’s always a solution and you just have to keep your brain open to different possibilities.”

“Operation Catapult” was launched 

That night Dexter devised Operation Catapult to make it happen. 

Within 48 hours, he pulled together a $10 million deal with a “verbal handshake” with several partners including Banner Health, the largest hospital chain in the state, EuroImmun, a world leader in manufacturing medical diagnostic equipment, the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS), and others. 

Everyone began working 24/7 to increase production of tests, said Dexter, who also serves as general manager of Quest Diagnostics, the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services. Sonora Quest and its partners launched into a massive effort to purchase equipment, set up manufacturing lines and supply chains, hire 215 new employees, and take other measures to ramp up production of tests and test results. 

Arizona capacity now exceeds demand  

Within days, Sonora Quest had eliminated a 65,000-test backlog. By Aug. 4, its COVID-19 testing capacity exceeded demand, the only lab in the U.S. able to be able to make that claim, company officials said.

And as of Monday, it was providing test results for both antibody and COVID-19 tests within 48 hours, they said. 

With new manufacturing lines being put in place, Sonora Quest is on target to produce 60,000 tests a day by the end of August or soon after. That will help position the state for virus surges in the fall, Dexter said. 

“We’ll make Arizona one of the most productive testing states — bar none — in the country,” he said.

Employer solutions 

As testing stabilizes, Dexter is preparing to meet new milestones. 

One is the launch of a new Employer Solutions to help companies bring back employees safely. Among the services offered to employers will be: 

-Streamlined lab ordering

-Mobile diagnostic services for on-site testing and testing of homebound patients

-Greater access to testing statewide 

Next on the list: contact tracing, daily testing at nursing homes 

Dexter also wants to work with agencies that do contact tracing to help slow the spread of the virus. Contact tracing involves locating all of the people who have been in contact with a patient who tests positive for the virus so they can be quarantined if needed. 

Daily testing at skilled nursing facilities is another goal Dexter is advocating for. Earlier this year, Sonora Quest worked with the Arizona Department of Health Service to get residents and staff tested at all 147 skilled nursing facilities. More needs to be done, he said.  

“I have a passion for long term care and I think it’s underserved in many ways,” he said.

Dexter said he and his team are waiting on guidance from state agencies and Banner Health to 

prioritize specific groups for testing, particularly for residents at long term care facilities, assisted living and other places where highly vulnerable citizens live. 

Finally, the question of education looms as another challenge, Dexter said. How to provide some form of testing for teachers and students, even if it involves targeting specific groups that are more at risk of spreading the virus. 

“Whatever it takes in this pandemic, we have to find a way to serve all Arizonans.”  

About Sonora Quest Laboratories

Sonora Quest, an independently run joint venture between Banner Health and Quest Diagnostics, is the nation’s largest integrated laboratory system with approximately 3,500 employees serving more than 26,000 patients every day across Arizona. Unlike national diagnostic laboratories, it provides a continuum of care for all sectors of the healthcare industry. As the market share leader in clinical laboratory testing in Arizona, it performs nearly 90 million diagnostic tests per year. 

To view its daily testing data, visit: .

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