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WASHINGTON - Vice President Mike Pence is traveling to Arizona on July 1 as the state sees skyrocketing coronavirus infections and hospitals prepare for a surge in patients.
Pence is scheduled to meet with Gov. Doug Ducey after landing in the late morning at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Pence and Ducey will then answer questions from reporters.
Pence has no public events on his schedule, which has him on the ground in Phoenix for only about 2 1/2 hours before he returns to Washington.
The hastily arranged Phoenix trip is a replacement for canceled events that were supposed to happen on Tuesday. Pence had planned to address a “Faith in America” campaign event in Tucson and to meet with Ducey in Yuma.
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VP Mike Pence’s Arizona campaign event canceled, will still meet with Gov. Ducey
Although Vice President Mike Pence's campaign event in Tucson had to be canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, he will still meet with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and state health leaders to discuss the state's response to the pandemic.
His visit comes as Arizona broke records in newly reported COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and deaths. State health officials reported 4,878 new cases — the first time the daily figure has surpassed 4,000.
Other alarming new highs included 2,876 hospitalizations and 1,289 ER visits for positive or suspected virus infections. The number of reported deaths in a day also hit a new record of 88, but that may include health officials reviewing death certificates for links to COVID-19.
The new data brings the total number of COVID-19 cases in Arizona to 84,092 and the total number of related deaths to 1,720.
In a bid to curb the virus’ spread, Ducey ordered gyms and movie theaters to close for 30 days. He also postponed the start of school until mid-August.
Arizona suspends liquor licenses at Lifetime Fitness Biltmore location
The Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control has suspended two licenses at the Lifetime Fitness Biltmore location after the facility remained open in violation of Governor Doug Ducey's executive order.
River tubing businesses have also closed after images over the weekend showed large numbers of tubers on the Salt River without masks.
Ducey also said public events of more than 50 people have also been banned. Pools, both public and private at apartment complexes and hotels, will be limited to 10 people at a time.
The governor also pushed back the start of the school year to August 17.
The vice president's visit comes just days after President Donald Trump toured the border wall in Yuma and held a rally at a North Phoenix megachurch.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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John Hook interviews President Donald Trump during his visit to Arizona-Mexico Border
The visit came as President Trump visited Arizona for the third time in 2020. In addition to visiting the border, President Trump also attended a "Students for Trump" event at a megachurch in Phoenix. During the interview, the President talked about the border wall, as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.