I can’t say I want to celebrate COVID’s second anniversary here in Pima
County, but I am glad to see the number of
cases once again in decline. It’s been a long
two years and the damn bug has done a lot of
damage to our community.
As my cover story in this week’s issue
reveals, the Omicron wave is receding. Case
numbers and hospitalizations are down, mask
mandates are being lifted and—while COVID
continues to spread in our community—the
risk of catching COVID is lower, especially if
you’re vaccinated.
If you aren’t vaccinated, you’re way more
likely to end up in the hospital or the morgue
after catching COVID, so I’d urge you get a
shot or get a booster, but I’m well aware that
plea will fall on deaf ears in certain circles.
Regardless of whether you think it’s a hoax,
I round up the state of COVID in this week’s
cover story.
Happily, many of our spring events are
back on the agenda, including this weekend’s
Tucson Festival of Books. This is a huge labor
of love for our rivals over at the Arizona Daily
Star and the other planners of the festival,
so huge thanks to the many volunteers who
make it possible. I’ll be moderating with Col.
Alexander Vindman, Washington Post White
House Bureau Chief Phil Rucker, Pulitzer
Prize-winning investigative reporter David
Cay Johnston and Max Cha in, who recently
published a biography of tech lord Peter
Theil. The panel “Will We Ever Be the Same?”
is from 2:30 to 3:30 on Sunday, March 13, at the
Gallagher Theater. You can also watch it on
C-SPAN if you don’t want to fight for a seat.
So what else in the book this week? Columnist Tom Danehy reflects on two years of
COVID; UA School of Journalism Don Bolles
Fellow Gloria Gomez looks at a bill that would
allow charter schools to take over struggling
traditional public schools; calendar editor
Emily Dieckman previews a remixed version
of Hamlet; arts writer Margaret Regan lets
you know how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
this year; XOXO columnist Xavier Omar
Otero keeps track of this week’s live music opportunities; Tucson Weedly columnist David
Abbott fills you in on the latest at the Legislature; and there’s plenty more tor explore, so
turn the page and get to it.
Oh, and screw you, COVID.
This article appears in Mar 10-16, 2022.