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SAVING CHRISTMAS
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LIGHTING OUR LIVES
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NEW FOR PETS
Wednesday, March 25. 2020
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Virus forces Ahwatukee schools to reshape teaching BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
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ith the mandated closure of Arizona schools extended to at least April 10, administrators for Ahwatukee schools were ramping up distance learning for thousands of students this week. It is no easy task as they confront a myriad of issues created by the widening pandemic, which struck an unidentified relative of an Ahwatukee Little League player. Among those issues are providing lessons
see VIRUS page 6
Tempe Union IT specialist Christopher Hurt helps students get laptops that the district loaned to students without one.(Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer)
Local doctor vents her frustration, anger BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
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f the many occupations on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19, health care workers are among the most endangered – and, according to Ahwatukee physician Dr. Joy G. Wolfe, among the most frustrated. For more than a week, the longtime family medicine practitioner has taken to social media to express her frustration with public health officials, hospitals and even some of her peers and members of the general public who take COVID-19 lightly and fail to maintain social distancing. In one of her most recent postings, she said Banner Health is disciplining nurses for wear-
ing protective masks – an allegation that Banner spokeswoman Nancy Neff said “has been reported for false information.” “It is of the upmost importance to us that we provide a safe and secure environment for our health care workers,” Neff said. “They are the most valuable resource for our community during the COVID-19 outbreak, and we are dedicated to keeping them healthy. “We are closely monitoring our stock of equipment and supplies, which include personal protective equipment for health care workers to safely engage with patients,” Neff said. But Wolfe isn’t backing down on that charge – or her accusations of laxity and poor planning among public health officials at all levels of government.
The pandemic is already affecting Wolfe’s practice. She can’t see new or regular patients who complain of fever or respiratory problems – key symptoms of the virus – and is frustrated by the lack of facilities with adequate capabilities to treat them. “Even when a patient comes in for what doesn’t appear to be a sick visit, they have a designated area that’s taped off where they need to stand to keep a social distance,” she explained. “A medical assistant comes up, puts a mask on the patient, checks their temperature and their oxygen levels, and then they never leave them out in the waiting room anymore,” she
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see DOCTOR page 12