Rebuilding America 05-31-2020

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Look to brighter future Celebrating those building a stronger, safer Arizona Greg Burton The Republic | USA TODAY NETWORK

In a Scottsdale bar, a manager lines up tables with a tape measure, 6 feet apart.

At a Phoenix restaurant, an owner reopens to slow business but waits for people to grow more confi dent, day by day.

At a Mesa barbershop, a barber runs his clippers through a customer’s hair — while wearing a yellow face mask.

See FUTURE, Page 15AA INSIDE Virtual medicine here to stay?

Resuming sports will take teamwork

Telemedicine docs are just one of the changes for Arizona hospitals. 4AA

Path to playing fi elds for Arizona youth sports starts with baby steps. 21AA

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT SECTION XX

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serif semibold 18p serif Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing ILLUSTRATION BY KYLE SLAGLE / USA TODAY NETWORK; GETTY IMAGES elit. Quisque tortor lacus, ultricies ac consequat at,

Follow along as we chronicle America’s recovery Up to the minute Weather Across country, states’ economies are reopening.

Get thethe latest news at High XX° Low XX° Shuttered stores, restaurants and other businesses and attractions are thoughtfully but Xxxxxxxx. urgently greeting customers.

Continue to follow our USA TODAY Network coverage azcentral.com Forecast, XX as the rebooting of America’s economy unfolds. Follow on Twitter at #RebuildingAmerica.

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2AA ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

REBUILDING AMERICA OUR VIEW

‘Rebuilding America’ chronicles the reopening — and resolve — of the US Maribel Wadsworth

President of news for the USA TODAY Network and publisher of USA TODAY

Kevin Gentzel

Chief revenue officer USA TODAY Network/Gannett

The reopening of America is a story of businesses adapting to a new normal, one where customers are at least 6 feet apart, and everyone is wearing masks.

It’s a story of car dealerships launching virtual showrooms and real estate agents conducting more home tours and other services via video.

It’s a story of restaurants adding more space between tables, expanding outdoor seating and increasing their cleaning protocols to begin opening their doors with limited capacity. And it’s the story of how our schools, our favorite downtown shops and the country’s largest retailers are preparing for an economic reawakening that is spreading across the nation as restrictions are being lifted.

It’s a story that can only be uniquely told by the USA TODAY Network’s more than 260 local newsrooms across the nation and our fl agship USA TODAY. The story is diff erent depending on where you live and what stage of reopening your state is currently in.

But in many ways, the story is the same: As each community works to rebuild its economy, it will mean changes, challenges and opportunities to chart a new course post-pandemic.

Today, we introduce “Rebuilding America,” a bold and ambitious project that chronicles the country’s reopening through a dozen key economic drivers – from real estate and the auto industry to higher education, travel and tourism.

For this project, journalists across the country examined both the national landscape of how these industries are navigating this uncertainty to how local

Hawley Antique Exchange manager Angela Gayes Soden turns the store’s open sign in Hawley, Pa., on May 22. Many businesses are opening for the fi rst time since the COVID-19 shutdown in March. CHRISTOPHER DOLAN/AP

businesses are reopening their doors safely. In conjunction with that strong independent reporting, our sales staff worked closely with more than 2,700 advertisers to help them craft their messages.

We have a deep commitment to telling our communities’ stories and to supporting local businesses.

In March, we launched Support Local, a platform designed to aid local businesses during this challenging time through gift card purchases and other measures. We recently added Volunteer Match to the site to connect willing volunteers to aid communities impacted by COVID-19.

We know this is not a story that will

be told in one day. We’ve been here since before this pandemic started, and we’ll be here long after it is over. We hope you’ll join in the journey of “Rebuilding America” as we all work together to build toward a new future.

Please keep reading. Keep supporting local businesses. And know that we are in this together.

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4AA ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

REBUILDING AMERICA HEALTH CARE

Virtual medicine may be here to stay Hospitals could also keep precautionary screenings Stephanie Innes

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

There will be more virtual medicine, equipment innovations and stepped-up restrictions in hospitals as Arizona reopens, local health leaders say.

Hospitals in Arizona started getting back into a pre-pandemic routine on May 1 by resuming elective surgeries, which had been halted by a March 19 executive order by Gov. Doug Ducey.

But patients will notice many changes, too. Health systems in Arizona have begun innovating to solve supply chain problems that emerged during the pandemic and those creative solutions, such as using 3D printing to make highgrade medical masks, are here to stay, said Dr. Keith Frey, chief medical offi cer for Dignity Health in Arizona.

“I do think that health systems like ours are going to be much less dependent on things out of their control for equipment, particularly that’s critical to do our work,” Frey said. “We’re less dependent than we were and more dependent on some of our innovations.”

Another change: Anyone having elective surgery will typically need to get tested for COVID-19 beforehand and hospitals have created separate entrances for those patients.

Banner Health, which is the state’s largest health system, is installing notouch thermometer technology that uses a “thermal camera” to take the temperature of anyone who goes into its Level One trauma hospitals in Arizona and Colorado, chief clinical offi cer Dr. Marjorie Bessel said.

For some of the larger hospitals, that can be several thousand employees per shift. The technology is made by Sunell, a video surveillance company based in China.

“We have really decreased the number of entrance points that we have in our hospitals. So some of our hospitals are very large and prior to COVID they had many entrances,” Bessel said, explaining how Banner is able to put that kind of screening in place.

Thermal cameras monitor employees’ temperatures as they enter Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix.

The screenings are just one example of the precautions the hospital has instituted. MARK HENLE/THE REPUBLIC

“We went through a type of technology that allows us to more rapidly screen. ... So far it’s worked really well for us. For those individuals that look like they are above the threshold temperature, we then go through an additional screening process with them.”

Bessel has asked Banner employees to lead by example as the state reopens by maintaining the six-foot social distancing rule, continuously wearing a mask and frequently washing their hands, among other procedures.

As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in Arizona, half of all visits to primary care doctors within Arizona’s Dignity Health system quickly shifted to telemedicine, Frey said.

Now that so many patients and providers are familiar with the technology, Frey expects some of the use of virtual medicine will stick, and be maintained at a level that’s much higher than it was pre-pandemic. Health care in Arizona will not ever go back to exactly the way it was, Frey predicts.

“The analogy I’m thinking of is how airport security changed permanently after 9/11,” Frey said. “I think the new normal in health care is going to be just a diff erent way that we try to avoid people being in large herds as they go through the system.”

Members of the public are likely to rethink how to position themselves in

waiting rooms, whether it’s in an emergency room or a doctor’s offi ce, he said.

“I do think the crowded waiting room of the past is probably going to go away,” Frey said. “Think about going to your doctor’s offi ce and you’ve got a mix of people there, some are coughing and sneezing. ... I think we are going to see that change signifi cantly.”

When patients do go into provider offi ces, practices have already changed.

Some offi ces have started keeping two containers for the pens patients use to fi ll out forms at the front desk — one for clean, one for dirty. Frey predicts more spacing between waiting room chairs and more intense sanitizing practices.

Frey says there have been some big lessons learned from the pandemic that has resulted in permanent changes at Dignity Health, which is part of the nonprofi t CommonSpiritHealth chain that operates in 21 states.

One lesson was that the supply chain for items such as isolation gowns and medical-grade masks is fragile. As a result, Dignity Health’s Barrow Neurological Center recently began making its own P100 masks with 3D printers, Frey said.

The P100 mask traps nearly all airborne particulates in its fi lter. The more commonly-used N-95 mask will fi lter out about 95% of airborne particles.

“This specifi c invention was borne by a crisis,” Frey said. “We are used to creating cutting-edge things for technology and highly specialized care, but we fl ipped the switch and focused on what the emergent need was, and they rose to the occasion.”

Another innovation that resulted from the pandemic: Banner and Dignity Health began a partnership with FABRIC Tempe to make reusable isolation gowns for health care workers.

“Traditionally, we buy those, stock them and throw them away,” Frey said.

“Now with this new model we are not only fabricating our own, but they are reusable. They can be washed up to 100 times. Not only did we stabilize our need for these supplies, we also are providing a more sustainable, earth-friendly model.”

Innovations were not limited to the supply chain. “Intubation boxes” that Dignity Health began using during the

pandemic are now the new norm, offi cials said.

The boxes provide a plexiglass-like hood over the head and shoulders of the patient who is being intubated. Intubation means putting a tube through a patient’s mouth and into their airway in order to connect them to a ventilator.

The intubation box is an additional layer of protection for health care workers to prevent them from getting exposed to airborne germs, Frey explained.

The boxes are similar to the plexiglass shields that have gone up in front of cashiers in grocery stores, pharmacies and other places of business during the pandemic, he said.

Another outcome of the pandemic is that it raised awareness about the importance of primary care, Frey said.

More people are now aware of the drawbacks of using emergency rooms for non-emergency care, he said.

“In a perfect world, we wouldn’t have everyone who is sick running to an emergency room. They would have a family doctor or pediatrician,” Frey said.

“We have those in the United States but we don’t have enough of them.”

Frey predicts that COVID-19 will spawn an era of stabilization and expansion in primary care.

“That way we can save the emergency rooms for people who are having emergencies like a stroke or a heart attack and they are not all crowded with people who have coughs and colds, worried that they have COVID-19 and maybe who could have been taken care of with a telehealth visit,” Frey said.

At Banner Health, all employees are doing what Bessel calls “continuous masking.” That means every employee, whether a patient fi nancial rep, a nurse or a custodial services worker, is always wearing a medical mask.

Support staff at Banner Health are working from home and that is going to continue indefi nitely, Bessel said. Other new processes have been put in place, too, including more disinfection of what she calls “high touch areas” in Banner facilities.

Reach health care reporter Stephanie Innes at Stephanie.Innes@gannett.com or at 602-444-8369. Follow her on Twitter @stephanieinnes.

Nursing homes face new challenges, must rebuild trust Caitlin McGlade

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

As the coronavirus pandemic swept across America, few places were hit harder than nursing homes and longterm care facilities.

In Arizona, at least half of all deaths were connected to a long-term care facility, and the push to learn more about how their vulnerable residents fared has roiled the state and many others.

As the nation emerges from the fi rst wave of the pandemic, long-term care facility experts expect changes in how they operate.

They will likely need to stockpile personal protective equipment, increase staffi ng and alter the way residents and visitors interact.

Some may also limit the number of residents and staff that regularly interact to better prevent spreading disease and contain outbreaks if they happen.

Fundamentally, some say, nursing homes specifi cally will also have to regain trust from families weary of their COVID-19 death toll. Long-term they may even weather a campaign to drive fewer federal dollars to nursing homes and more to other types of care.

Despite that, critics and frustrated families interviewed by the Republic said they expect people will continue to rely on nursing homes.

The new coronavirus tends to be more severe for seniors and those with illnesses.

Seema Verma, administrator for Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, likened coronavirus exposure in long-term care facilities to “taking a match to tinder.”

“It’s clear this virus will continue to pose a threat to nursing homes where elderly individuals with underlying health conditions live in close quarters,” Verma said during a May 18 call with reporters.

At the pandemic’s onset, long-term care settings immediately traded video calls for in-person visits and limited social gatherings during the pandemic.

But that was only a fraction of the battle.

Many didn’t have proper gear to prevent spread, said Sylvia Garcia-Houchins, director of infection prevention and control with the Joint Commission.

The Joint Commission accredits health-care organizations.

Nursing homes have generally fo-

cused on buying gowns and gloves, not N95 respirators. They typically collected limited face masks for infections like the fl u.

So they were caught off guard when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in April that a common procedure spreads COVID-19 to staff , she said.

Nebulizers are machines that convert medicine from a liquid to a mist so that the patient can inhale it. They’re commonly used in nursing homes for residents with with lung issues such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“This was something that nobody ever thought about,” Garcia-Houchins said. “People started saying ‘Well wait a minute, ... we’ve got to wear an N95 respirator.’ These nursing homes didn’t have any.”

She said sometimes long-term care facilities could get masks from public health authorities if they just asked for help. But administrators tend to shy away from that because they’re afraid that will make their facility look bad, and perhaps invite inspectors, she said.

“If they ask for this personal protective equipment, will that shine the light on them?” she said of the thought process behind not asking for help. “We should be past that, but I’m not so sure we are. I hope people understand it’s OK to ask a question. And it’s OK to have a surveyor show up.”

Administrators will need to get more aggressive in asking for help, she said.

But David Voepel, executive director for the Arizona Healthcare Association, said help hasn’t been there. If administrators haven’t asked, it’s because they know its pointless, he said. He criticized the government for relying on nursing homes to take COVID-19 patients from hospitals without always giving them a similar level of priority as hospitals for getting personal protective equipment.

Even enough gowns were hard to come by as the pandemic took hold. A typical 100-bed nursing home will go through 250 gowns per day. Add just one patient with COVID-19? The number rises to 2,000, he said.

That’s because county guidelines say that if a building has even one COVID-19 patient, the entire staff must wear full droplet protection. They are supposed to dispose of them after visiting every patient.

While collecting more personal protective equipment may be one of the

Is a nursing home safe?

The Arizona Department of Health Services refuses to release the number of coronavirus cases within each nursing home in Arizona. The Arizona Republic is taking them to court for those records. Here are some other ways to fi nd out more information about what’s happening inside nursing homes: ❚ Find out what nursing homes have been cited for infection control problems by searching our database at datacentral.azcentral.com. ❚ Read all inspection reports and see ratings at Nursing Home Compare: https://www.medicare.gov/nursing homecompare/search.html?

Mariposa Point properties are assisted living facilities in the Valley. Their Mesa facility had a drive-by parade for Mother's Day. COURTESY MARIPOSA POINT OF MESA

larger long-term changes for facility administrators, families will notice something else the most: changes in how they see their loved ones.

Even when care facilities start allowing visitors again, they may only allow them after they answer a questionnaire about their recent whereabouts and possible symptoms, take their temperature and don a mask.

And it’s likely that some facilities will have a designated space for visitors, rather than allowing them to walk the halls and come in contact with residents other than their immediately family, Garcia-Houchins said.

Mariposa Point properties, which are assisted living facilities in the Valley, are likely to adopt a practice like that, said Laurie Stump-McConnell, area executive director.

Assisted living facilities diff er from nursing homes in that they serve a much more active population that tend to live in spaces more like apartments than hospital rooms. They are also far less regulated than nursing homes, which get annual inspections from state surveyors that report to CMS. Stump-McConnell said visitors, when they start letting them back in, will have to fi ll out a standard form.

“Do you have a cough? Do you have a fever? Have you been out of the coun-

❚ View detailed citations at the Arizona Department of Health Services provider search: https://hsapps.azdhs.gov/ls/ sod/SearchProv.aspx?type=LTC

try? Have you been to any of the hotspots?”

She expects that masks will be a requirement, too.

Two residents at the company’s Mesa location have contracted COVID-19, but the virus never spread to staff or other residents.

Both residents, including a 93-yearold woman, have recovered fully, according to Mariposa Point.

Stump-McConnell said her team was able to contain the virus by extensive staff education, permitting only one staff er per shift to interact with the COVID-19-positive patient, making sure those staff did not interact with other patients, and, among other things, largely restricting all residents to their rooms.

The pandemic has shed light on the need to move seniors out of nursing homes that “cram them together into relatively small spaces,” said Tony Chicotel, staff attorney at California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform.

Nationally, nursing homes continue to operate in part because federal reimbursement largely directs seniors toward their care. It is diffi cult in many scenarios to get the federal reimbursement needed to cover in-home services or assisted living facilities, Chicotel said.

Reach Caitlin McGlade at caitlin. mcglade@arizonarepublic.com or 602444-0582. Follow her on Twitter @caitmcglade.

AZCENTRAL.COM ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ 5AA

6AA ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

REBUILDING AMERICA GROCERY STORES

Grocery stores already prepared Russ Wiles

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

Supermarket chains and other grocery retailers in Arizona aren’t preparing for the reopening of the economy like a lot of other businesses. That’s because food stores already had to make signifi cant adjustments on the run, as they never shut down during the coronavirus outbreak.

Stores already have installed socialdistancing fl oor markers for customers waiting in checkout lines, they have installed plexiglass partitions around cashier terminals, and they have closed or altered some high-touch areas such as salad bars.

They clean shelves more often, sanitize shopping carts between uses and require many employees to wear masks and gloves.

Supermarket revenue and sales of many types of products — from meat and dairy items to toilet paper — have been well above normal. This essential part of the economy never closed and has been an area of strength.

But along with rising revenue have come increased expenses, especially as grocery stores were forced to hire more staff to meet bloated demand — and pay them more.

Rising revenue and expenses at Sprouts Farmers Market

A customer waits on a social distancing line marker at a Safeway in Tempe on May 21. ELI IMADALI/THE REPUBLIC

Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market provides a good example.

Like many retail food chains, Sprouts has reported a spike in sales so far this year, largely attributable to the closing of restaurants, anxiety over food availability and other factors that led to increased grocery-store visits. Sprouts' comparable-store sales jumped 10.6% during the January-March quarter, and April sales were strong even though the company closed its retail locations for Easter Sunday.

But along with the sales uptick, many expenses also have risen for Sprouts, such as enhanced sanitation measures, subsidized child-care costs, up to 14 days of additional paid time off for employees and higher pay, averaging $2 an hour extra for staff working during the coronavirus crisis.

“We are making signifi cant investments in pay, benefi ts and safety measures,” said Denise Paulonis, chief fi nancial offi cer of Sprouts Farmers Market, in discussing the company’s fi rstquarter results. “We remain uncertain as to when consumer behavior will return to normal or what may emerge as

the ‘new normal.’”

Dealing with supply shortages Supermarket customers have witnessed many changes at their local stores, from plexiglass shields and the widespread wearing of masks to limits on high-demand items including toilet paper and tissue products, certain cuts of meat and dairy products. And while items like beans and rice often weren’t restricted, they often were stripped clean by anxious shoppers.

As demand pressures ease, most of these products will become more plentiful, and restrictions will let up. Meanwhile, grocery stores are paying greater attention to their supply chains to help reduce the odds of running out.

Sprouts, for example, is aiming to open more distribution centers closer to its stores and make sure they operate more effi ciently. Currently, Sprouts’ distribution centers serve stores within about a 500-mile radius. The company plans to increase capacity so that most stores are within a 250-mile radius of distribution centers.

Arizona grocery stores: What’s new

manufacturing capacity down the road in places like Arizona remains an unknown.

❚ Cashier partitions, distancing signage, special hours for older customers.

Permanent changes ahead

❚ Increased retailer costs for store cleaning, salaries, staff benefi ts.

Meanwhile, services such as curbside pickup and home delivery of groceries already were available before the pandemic hit. Those conveniences likely will expand, with more home deliveries conducted by self-driving vehicles, as several grocery companies have tested around the Phoenix metro area.

Other changes that might become permanent include shorter store hours (which make it easier for stores to restock items and sanitize fl oor areas) and special hours for older shoppers and those with disabilities.

Retailers also might retain their tighter return policies, especially on items subject to hoarding, such as toilet paper. But as more restaurants reopen and people dine out more often, supply pressures at grocery stores should ease somewhat.

Reach the reporter at russ.wiles@ari zonarepublic.com or 602-444-8616.

❚ Focus on developing shorter, more reliable product supply chains. ❚ Expansion of curbside pickup, home delivery of groceries.

Suppliers of food and other products have been busy, too. For example, American paper mills produced nearly 700,000 tons of tissue and toilet paper in March, more than any other month since 2007 and equivalent to about four pounds for each U.S. resident, the American Forest & Paper Association reported.

Procter & Gamble, the nation’s largest producer of toilet paper and tissue, supplies the Arizona market from a mill in Oxnard, California.

Whether large suppliers increase

REBUILDING AMERICA RETAIL

How Arizona department stores are adapting Department stores: What’s new

Ryan Randazzo

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

Department stores already faced a diffi cult business environment before the coronavirus pandemic in Arizona, but big anchor stores say they are ready to welcome back customers with enhanced emphasis on cleaning and social distancing.

That is, they are welcoming back customers at the stores that remain open.

On May 18, J.C. Penney announced it would close more than one-fourth of its stores, or about 242 locations, nationwide. Other big retailers also are making cuts.

But at the remaining locations, business carries on.

J.C. Penney hasn’t listed which stores will close in its bankruptcy restructuring, but as of May 20 it reopened seven stores across Arizona that shut for the pandemic.

Macy’s reopened seven metro Phoenix stores on May 18, with an emphasis on its “contract-free, curbside pickup.”

In February just prior to the pandemic shutting many U.S. businesses, Macy’s said it would close about 125 stores nationwide. Included in those closures is a Tempe call center that had about 840 workers.

Now emerging from the pandemic, customers are allowed in the Phoenix stores, where they will encounter employees behind plastic barriers and wearing masks. It doesn’t appear customers will be required to wear masks themselves, however.

“Each Macy’s location is aligned with the CDC guidelines, local orders and mall partner policies,” company spokeswoman Jacqueline King said.

The chain is following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-

❚ Emphasis on no-contact curbside pickup for those who don’t want to go in a store. ❚ Suspension of certain services for the time being, especially those like cosmetics testers that require contact. ❚ Employees wearing masks and some stores offering them to customers.

Macy’s has added signage at its stores reminding customers to follow the CDC guidelines for social distancing. The chain reopened seven of its Phoenix-area stors on May 18. COURTESY OF MACY’S

vention, including enhanced cleaning of certain areas in the stores, guidelines to keep customers and workers 6 feet from one another, sanitation stations installed in stores and wellness checks for workers before they clock in.

“We are ready to welcome our customers back to Macy’s Phoenix community,” Macy’s Chief Stores Offi cer Marc Mastronardi said in a press release.

“Our teams have come together and supported each other and our communities throughout this challenging time, and we look forward to safely serving our customers whenever they are ready to shop.”

Macy’s will use a “no touch” protocol for helping customers, which means suspending things like cosmetic testers, spa services and bra fi ttings, according

to the company.

Like other retailers, the company also is off ering curbside pick up where online orders are brought to a customer’s car and placed in the trunk without contact between people.

Macy’s also said it is enhancing returns as well, so customers can get in and out quickly. Returned merchandise will be placed in a special collection depot before it’s returned to the sales fl oor, according to the company.

Macy’s also is extending the time to return merchandise, including for items that couldn’t be returned during store closures.

Nordstrom to close Chandler store Nordstrom, which also runs Nord-

strom Rack and Last Chance stores, reopened Phoenix-area stores on May 21.

Nordstrom already announced that its Chandler Fashion Center location would close permanently by August because of the pandemic, along with 15 other locations nationwide.

Including two Tucson locations, Nordstrom reopened 10 Arizona locations that day.

“The health and well being of our employees, customers and communities is our priority,” Nordstrom said in a statement.

Like Macy’s, the company is following CDC guidance.

The nationwide chain said it only will reopen stores in states where that is allowed and where the company is confi dent it can protect the safety of workers and customers.

Nordstrom says it will provide face masks for customers but doesn’t say if they will be required to wear them, though employees will be required to wear masks.

Like Macy’s, it appears the guidance will depend on local rules and policies.

Additionally, Nordstrom says it is making changes to the fi tting-room procedures, and “pausing or adapting hightouch services” which presumably will include things like cosmetic counters.

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8AA ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

REBUILDING AMERICA RETAIL

Stores, malls reopening with masks, rules Appointments, dividers in future for retailers

ers a look at real-time shopper activity so you can plan a shopping trip based on the current crowds.

Dalvin Brown and Kelly Tyko

How will retail workers serve you?

USA TODAY

Malls and stores that have been off limits for shoppers with all of the stayat-home orders are opening the door to a brand-new shopping experience vastly diff erent from what we all knew when most closed in mid-March.

Welcome to a new phase of COVID-19 pandemic shopping where there are fewer places to lounge for a break or a bite, trying on clothes gets complicated and planning a strategy is required before going where families spent their Saturdays, teens experienced fi rst dates and friends roamed for hours on end.

The overall experience will not be as seamless as it used to be.

In most cases, you can’t simply walk in without store or mall employees giving a thumbs-up as they adhere to new capacity limitations. You may need to wait in line to enter and could be turned away from some stores if you’re not wearing a mask.

For those who venture out fi rst, there’s a payoff : Discounts.

Retailers are sitting on mounds of inventory to get rid of after being closed for months.

“In apparel, the price for consumers will actually fall,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of the retail consultancy GlobalData. “They will have a lot more discounts and a lot more bargains.”

As malls across the nation get back to business, here’s how the retail landscape has changed and how people will shop.

Shopping by appointment One of the shopping innovations seeing a rise in the wake of COVID-19 is virtual appointments. The online setups allow you to carve out a time to shop in advance or connect with brands remotely.

David’s Bridal launched a virtual stylist and online appointment experi-

Once you make it inside the store, you’ll notice what retailers are focusing on: “The new brand commitment is going to be health and safety,” said Matt Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation.

Those reminder signs, plexiglass dividers and social distancing markers taped on the fl oor at stores like Walmart, Target and Whole Foods will also be in mall stores.

Apple, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Old Navy, Ulta Beauty and Nordstrom are among the many retailers who have announced their employees will be required to wear face coverings. Some retail employees will also be required to wear gloves.

Shoppers will also be asked to wear masks in some cases. Apple, like Costco, mandates it if you want to enter the store.

Team members at the Jared, Galleria of Jewelry, in Frisco, Texas, maintain a 6-foot social distance while preparing the store. MATT BROWN/SIGNET JEWELERS

ence to help with wedding plans. On May 6, Suitsupply introduced guided virtual shopping.

And in April, the makeup company Glossier launched a video chat function that supports one-on-one consultations.

“Some customers may be anxious about a brick-and-mortar experience,” said Bill Luth, executive vice president of store operations at Signet Jewelers, whose 3,000 stores including Kay Jewelers, Zales and Jared have begun rolling out video appointments. “We spent time elevating our digital journey so when our customers start shopping our brands, they can do it in a modern and compelling way.”

But there are in-person appointments and waitlists, too. Some stores at Taubman Center malls are letting shoppers join virtual waitlists via an app and maybe wait in the car or away from the crowd. Shoppers then get a push noti-

fi cation when it’s time to come in.

“They’re scrambling to fi nd ways to reopen and to do a better job managing the number of shoppers in the stores,” said OpenTable CEO Steve Hafner.

In late March, the company announced an expansion of its software to let users choose between available shopping time slots at supermarkets and retailers, the way you would make a restaurant reservation on the app.

The Container Store and Best Buy are welcoming shoppers back to reopening stores by appointment only.

“We’ve started by scheduling one customer in the store at a time and gradually depending upon local and state government, we’ve opened that up,” Container Store CEO Melissa Reiff told USA TODAY. In addition to off ering shopping by appointment and virtual waitlists via app among other new features, Westfi eld Shopping Centers will give custom-

What about trying clothes on?

Clothing stores are the top choice among consumers looking to spend, according to a recent study by the retail analytics fi rm First Insight. But people aren’t as eager to try on clothes – which is fi ne because retailers are limiting the practice anyway.

Sixty-fi ve percent of women and 54% of men said they will not feel safe trying on clothes in dressing rooms during the pandemic, the survey found.

Companies including Target, Kohl’s, T.J. Maxx and Ross have closed fi tting rooms altogether.

“We just feel like it’s an extra step so people are assured that we’re taking all the precautions,” Kohl’s CEO Michelle Gass said in an interview with USA TODAY, adding that employees remind shoppers of Kohl’s “very generous” 180day return policy.

Meanwhile, household names like Macy’s, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue are keeping fi tting rooms open, but there will be fewer available as workers have to clean them between use.

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10AA ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

REBUILDING AMERICA EDUCATION

A big shift for K-12 schools Lily Altavena

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

When Arizona students return to school, it will likely be a very diff erent experience from what they knew before the coronavirus.

Students’ temperatures may be checked as they walk in the door. They might have to sit 6 feet apart from their friends. They might eat lunch in their classroom instead of crowding together into a cafeteria. Their teachers’ smiles may be hidden behind masks.

Arizona schools closed their classrooms and went online in mid-March.

Since then, students have taken online tests, held proms via Zoom, and celebrated graduations with car parades and virtual ceremonies.

Planning has begun for summer school programs to be held online.

It’s still unclear when the state’s K-12 schools will reopen, and whether reopening would come with new regulations. But Arizona educators are beginning to plan for that eventuality.

Arizona Department of Education spokeswoman Morgan Dick wrote in an email that schools are scheduled to open on time in July or August, “absent any new declaration from the governor, local school boards or health offi cials.”

The Arizona Department of Education has convened a task force to plan for reopening.

‘We don’t want to use our kids as guinea pigs’ While task force documents state that school leaders will prepare for “safe school openings,” the state and federal government haven’t come out with specifi c guidance on what a safe school opening would look like.

School leaders say they need clear guidance to move forward.

Clearing out crowded classrooms and crammed hallways will take a Herculean eff ort from school leaders and may require a sacrifi ce from parents if students have to attend fewer days of in-person class.

Some states are considering alternating which days students attend school or splitting the day into two shifts to help decrease class sizes. Arizona already has some of the largest class sizes in the nation.

Out of concern that the eff orts wouldn’t be enough to keep kids healthy, some parents are considering keeping their kids home next school year.

“We don’t want to use our kids as

Blue Ridge High School senior Emily Halls inspects a face shield created on a 3D printer in the STEM fabrication lab. COURTESY OF BLUE RIDGE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

guinea pigs,” Lindsey Helbert, a Gilbert mom and nurse with fi ve school-age kids, said.

Helbert spent part of April working with COVID-19 patients in New York.

Watching the illness kill patients was devastating, she said. She saw semitrucks fi lled with the bodies of victims of the virus. She saw patients die alone.

The days Helbert spent in New York drove her to consider homeschooling her kids when the new school year begins.

“I really have no intention of sending my kids back to school prematurely until there are precautions in place,” she said.

School in a pandemic The Arizona Department of Education’s document outlining the state’s approach to reopening schools does not indicate how a school should structure a learning environment while the pandemic rages.

The document does specify that the state should work on strengthening internet infrastructure and online learning platforms. That may mean distance learning, in some fashion, will continue to be part of a child’s school day.

Some schools have struggled to assure all students, particularly those in low-income and rural areas, have access to computers and internet so they can participate in online programs. Businesses and local nonprofi ts are helping fi ll the gaps.

Plans discussed in other states preview what Arizona parents could expect.

A draft of school reopening plans in Ohio calls for daily student temperature checks, hand-sanitizing stations and face masks for students and teachers, according to cleveland.com.

Marisol Garcia, vice president of Arizona’s biggest teacher’s union and chair-

person of a union-led COVID-19 education task force, said teachers will have to learn more about online learning, with the support of their schools.

“Educators were not ready to deliver this type of instruction,” she said.

John Carruth, superintendent of the Vail Unifi ed School District in southern Arizona, said his district is considering a few scenarios. School in his district is scheduled to start in July.

In one scenario, school could open up and resume as it did before the coronavirus. In another, the district may have to implement strict distancing measures.

State school fi nance laws would need to change for the second scenario, because distancing requirements would likely mean students would have to alternate days they go to school to keep class sizes low, he said.

Because funding is based on student attendance, schools wouldn’t be able to receive as much funding as they do now because students would be present for fewer days than typical.

Distancing or strengthened virtual classroom options would also likely be more expensive to implement than traditional school, a daunting hurdle when schools may face funding cuts because of lost state tax revenue and budget problems at the state level.

“We’ve got to have some stability ... and not have so much budget loss that we’re dismantling our schools while we’re trying to serve kids,” Carruth said.

Rethinking the classroom The coronavirus could spur systemic change in the classroom, and could even encourage diff erent methods of teaching and learning.

Carole Basile, dean at Arizona State University’s teaching college, said clo-

sures could speed up the evolution to a new kind of classroom. Her college had already worked with districts to experiment with new classroom models, she said, including a “team classroom” concept.

The new practice looks diff erent in every district — a school in the Kyrene School District has assigned six adults, three of whom are teachers, to teach 100 kids in one massive classroom. The other three may be volunteers from the community, support specialists or student teachers.

“We’re gonna have six months of learning lost and we’re going to need an army of people who are skilled and able to come in to work with kids,” Basile said.

Parents are confl icted about what school should look like this fall.

“I don’t know what the right answers are, but I’m nervous about schools opening back up — happy, yes, but nervous, nonetheless,” Meagan Zornes said.

Arizona already off ers parents numerous school options, from the neighborhood district school to charter schools to online learning programs. The coronavirus may have parents searching even more carefully for a school option that best addresses their concerns.

“I will be home schooling for the next year,” Lori Sanchez said. “I don’t see how social distancing measures could possibly be put in place. They cannot force kids to socially distance.”

She worries that requiring all staff and students to wear masks would be a distraction, and a temporary solution.

“We don’t know enough about this virus. Predictions are that it is likely to come back in the fall,” she said. “If it does, what then?”

Laura Umphrey said she’d be more comfortable if schools do require masks.

“If everyone wore a mask, my comfort level would improve,” she said, but added that she doesn’t trust other families to do the right thing to keep everyone else safe. “Wearing a mask to slow the spread has become politicized.”

Carrie Brown said she hopes education leaders can learn from other countries where students are returning to class.

“I fully expect it to not be everything back to normal,” she said. “They will need to track potential and actual illnesses among students and staff in addition to fi guring out how to practice some form of social distancing. I assume we will all be adopting new ways to work and go to school until we have herd immunity to decrease the rates of infection. We’ll face it and fi gure it out.”

College experience won’t ever be the same What to know about higher education

Rachel Leingang

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

Arizona colleges plan to return to inperson classes in the fall, but it won’t be the college experience most students expected.

Arizona colleges are still working on their plans for how to safely bring students back to campus. In announcements about plans for the fall, they allow wiggle room for change, depending on how the virus progresses.

In general, though, college offi cials and outside experts say some big changes are all but guaranteed, should classes resume in person.

There won’t be large lecture halls packed with students. No big parties.

Common areas like libraries and student unions will be more spaced out. Faculty may limit in-person offi ce hours, which are typically spent in close quarters.

Instead, students should expect social distancing to be the norm. They may have to wear masks or face coverings.

They might get regular temperature checks. They could be tested for COVID-19, and the colleges could have contact tracing programs in place.

Arizona State University, the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University all plan to resume in-person classes this fall, their presidents announced on April 30. Grand Canyon University expects in-person classes as well. The Maricopa Community Colleges have a phased approach to bring more classes and services back over time.

Arizona colleges also have said students who are concerned for their health will have online options, and faculty will have options to teach online for the same reason.

Return of students would help colleges For colleges, returning students to campus has advantages. Some students want to come back and say they prefer the in-person learning environment.

Colleges can’t create an entirely safe environment. But they can minimize risk by implementing and enforcing social distancing, temperature checks and hygiene practices.

Classes can be online or in person.

Colleges have said they will be flexible to account for students’ preferences.

Instead of students walking up to receive their diplomas, robots bearing photos or videos of the students they were standing in for walked at the graduation ceremony for ASU’s Thunderbird School of Global Management.

COURTESY OF THE THUNDERBIRD SCHOOL OF GLOBAL MANAGEMENT

Plus, returning to campus may help with retention of those who don’t like the online classes. Students staying in college helps the fi nancial bottom line of universities, and fi nances for colleges can be shaky even without a pandemic.

Students told The Arizona Republic that they would love to go back to campus, but some have safety concerns and aren’t yet convinced their colleges are prepared for an infl ux of people. Some said they are waiting to see plans before making a fi nal decision about whether to enroll in fall classes. Professors, too, are waiting for details.

“There’s going to be people who think that there should be in-person in the fall, and then there’s going to be people who think that it should be online,” said John Brown, an ASU sophomore. “So no matter what, you’re not going to please anyone.”

While Arizona’s colleges are largely planning to reopen, schools across the country are split on returning. Many California colleges, for instance, have said they intend to continue online.

Some college leaders say the schools must go back to in-person learning while others argue that there’s no way it can be

done safely and aff ordably.

At this point, there are more questions than answers about the logistics of how Arizona colleges and universities will return. With how quickly life has changed in such a short period of time, planning months in advance can be diffi cult.

“I don’t think they can guarantee anything at this point, just given the severity of the public health crisis,” said Robert Kelchen, associate professor of higher education at Seton Hall.

“And another concern is that it takes time to prepare to go online or to go in person. ... And that’ll make the decision have to be earlier, or colleges have to fi nd a way to delay the whole semester, which fi nancially would be very diffi cult to do.”

Liability concerns, plans for testing Colleges, like businesses, may also be concerned about liability, should a student or staff member get sick on campus and then sue. Some, like ASU President Michael Crow, have expressed interest in “safe harbor” laws that would protect

More detailed plans are coming. Classes aren’t scheduled to start until August, though colleges could decide to shift their schedules. Expect more detailed plans later this summer.

them from lawsuits.

UA has announced plans for testing, tracking and treating its students and staff who get sick. The school also has said classes will operate at 50% capacity. UA tapped one of its professors, Richard Carmona, a former U.S. surgeon general, to lead its COVID-19 return.

GCU plans to run 10,000 COVID tests per month, spokesman Bob Romantic said. The university is making its own personal protective equipment, including masks. It expects enrollment for oncampus students to exceed expectations and dorms to be at capacity, so the campus hotel may operate as additional housing for those who become ill.

NAU President Rita Cheng said the school will follow safety standards like social distancing, limiting occupancy of rooms, and increasing sanitizing, testing and tracing. The school is still working out the details, she said.

ASU also hasn’t released detailed plans for the fall. A small number of students will return to in-person classes in the late summer session that starts on July 1. Those students will give the school an opportunity to see how the return could work in the fall, ASU has said.

Reach reporter Rachel Leingang by email at rachel.leingang@gannett.com or by phone at 602-444-8157, or fi nd her on Twitter and Facebook.

AZCENTRAL.COM â?š SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 â?š 11AA

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12AA ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

REBUILDING AMERICA HOME SERVICES

DIY projects booming as people stay home Maria Polletta

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

For years, Guadalupe resident Carlos Valencia had the desire to expand his home improvement skills.

But until the new coronavirus pandemic forced him to work from home — and to limit contact with those outside of his family — he never had the time.

“When my father-in-law fi rst moved to North Phoenix (two years ago), I’d told him, ‘If you guys are ever going to do any projects, I’m more than willing to help,’” said Valencia. “The last couple weekends, we’ve fi nally been doing it.”

The pair has started an ambitious patio project, which will require woodworking, masonry and roofi ng skills, among others. Valencia said he’s invested in new equipment and supplies, making frequent, masked trips to Lowe’s — and one socially distanced home visit to buy a miter saw. He also plans to build a wall at his own home after helping his father-in-law.

“I’ve always had so many ideas,” he said. “This time has allowed me to think about them and be able to move on it.”

If home improvement stores’ surging sales numbers are any indication, thousands of Americans are doing the same.

The Farnsworth Group — which, along with the Home Improvement Research Institute, analyzes renovation activity weekly — called DIY projects a “bright spot during COVID-19 for March and April” and said research “suggests the strong activity will continue in May.” “Intent remains strong as many homeowners continue to be at home and have disposable income being shifted to home improvement in lieu of entertainment, travel or retail,” the research team’s mid-May report said.

Reliable systems priority for customers That’s exactly what Ken Goodrich, CEO of Tempe-based Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing, has observed.

He said his company has seen a more than 35% spike in business over this time last year, leading to an expansion in hiring. It’s also struggling to keep parts for indoor air quality systems on hand, “because there’s such a high demand right now.”

“People are at home, they have time, and they feel like, ‘While I have this time, let’s get this fi xed or that fi xed,’” Goodrich said. “I think that’s where our uptick is coming from — people just wanting to do these projects they’ve neglected.”

Of course, on-site visits look a bit different these days. Technicians wear masks and gloves, and customers who

Jesus Martinez, right, of Boundary Waters applies a skim coat of cement on a waterfalls/slide on a pool in Chandler on May 19. Assisting Jesus is his son, Jose Martinez. MARK HENLE/THE REPUBLIC

prefer not to interact with a technician directly can use a contactless invoice and payment system.

The company also off ers a FaceTime option for consultations.

“A lot of our customers indicate that they want to make sure that their HVAC and plumbing systems are reliable, so that just in case somebody, God forbid, gets sick in the house, those two essential systems are the best they can be,” he said.

“It’s interesting, because that’s something we’ve been preaching for 81 years at Goettl, and now everyone’s starting to get it. Air conditioning in Phoenix is not a luxury; it’s a life support.”

Big projects fall behind, but pools are bright spot in reno market Though repairs and DIY projects seem to be holding strong, the outlook isn’t so rosy for more substantial remodeling projects.

The Houzz Renovation Barometer, which surveyed more than 2,000 construction, architecture and design companies nationwide, had more than half report canceled projects and threequarters report project delays and drops in initial inquiries.

In some cases, clients pointed to fi nancial worries, given the abrupt economic downturn. Safety risks concerned others, given that contractors and other home improvement profes-

sionals often need to access a home’s interior.

The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University has predicted major renovation spending will decline through early 2021 “due to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

There seems to be at least one exception in Arizona, however — perhaps a predictable one, given looming tripledigit months.

Pool builders and installers have done “crazy” business lately, according to Michael Conley, owner of Queen Creek-based Boundary Waters Pools and Spas.

That’s despite projects sometimes taking longer to complete, since some contractors are limiting the number of employees on-site at a given time as a precaution.

“There’s been a pretty big increase from last year during this time for us, and for all the guys I’ve talked to (in the industry),” he said. “I think it’s just, people are home, and they see these projects that they’ve been meaning to do — in some cases, for years.”

Conley said he received a call from a client who’d fi rst inquired about a new pool four years ago, for instance, wanting to move ahead now that he works from home full-time.

“He called me and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got the funds, can we go ahead and do this?’ and I said, ‘Absolutely,’ ” he said.

“I’m dealing with a lot of projects like that.”

Safety tips for home services Consumer Reports has outlined a series of steps homeowners can take if they need to make a service call that can’t wait, or if they’re considering proceeding with a renovation.

1. Ask about precautions before an appointment. This could include asking a representative whether workers are required to wear masks and maintain 6 feet of distance from clients and whether they will bring disinfectants to clean tools or supplies.

2. Be transparent about your own exposure. Many companies are using screening questions prior to appointments to avoid sending their employees to homes where someone has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is being quarantined.

3. Request a contactless transaction. This could involve a mobile payment method or any approach that doesn’t require exchanging pens or paper.

4. Chart a path. Plan how you’ll direct the worker through the home, so that he or she doesn’t isn’t entering rooms or touching surfaces unnecessarily.

5. Disinfect the work area before and after the professional visits.

6. Stand 6 feet away when you interact with workers.

Reach the reporter at maria.poll etta@arizonarepublic.com or 602-6536807. Follow her on Twitter @mpolletta.

What do-it-yourself buying tells us Insiders: Projects heat up industry’s mixed outlook

Where is the home-improvement category headed?

Grace Schneider

1) As Americans stayed at home, the do-it-yourself and home service industries gained momentum from March through early May.

Louisville Courier Journal USA TODAY NETWORK

Stuck at home in a paralyzing health crisis, people across America fi nally tackled long-delayed, homeimprovement projects that are giving a boost to the do-it-yourself and handyman segments of the U.S. economy.

In Louisville, Kentucky, the COVID-19 crisis has been a completely unexpected boon for Max Daugherty’s outdoor living contractor business. New decks, patio upgrades, backyard spruce-ups – the calls are pouring in.

His crew working in Louisville is booked through August, but Daugherty is still wary of what’s around the corner for deck rebuilds and other big residential projects in an economy rocked by the pandemic. His guesses about how stay-at-home orders and restricted travel might shrink revenues were so dead wrong starting in March that he’s still inclined to play conservative now rather than expand the business.

“I prepared myself for the worst, and it was completely the opposite,” said Daugherty, owner of Max Building Designs in Charlestown, Indiana.

He’s now delivering 25 quotes a week for prospective jobs, compared with eight to 10 estimates this time last year.

But “if we invest in another truck for another crew and things go bad, I’ve got an investment sitting there that’s not returning.” And he’d also face laying off workers he’d just hired on.

Such is the dilemma in the red-hot hardware, paint and home services arena around the country, as one of the world’s strangest second quarters barrels into its fi nal month.

The pandemic has led many homeowners across the country to pounce on DIY home improvement projects during

2) The immediate forecast remains strong for do-it-yourselfers, especially as we move into spring. The garden segment is exploding at most retailers.

Benjamin White, left, and James Emador of Max Building Designs work on building a custom deck for a homeowner in New Albany, Ind. They said they’ve noticed treated lumber has been scarce. MATT STONE/USA TODAY NETWORK

stay-home orders. And as a result, hardware, home improvement and farm supply stores – which the federal government deemed essential businesses – have seen a massive surge in demand for tools, paint, lawn and garden goods and treated lumber.

Added to that is a higher demand for cleaning supplies, security systems, safety gear, sidewalk chalk and activity kits for youngsters, said Randy Rusk, national spokesman for Do It Best, a cooperative of hardware, lumber, and building materials stores in 50 states and more than 50 countries.

But analysts and marketing experts in the home and hardware industry are cautious. They predict a mixed bag in spending through the end of this year, dragged down by little or no construction in some states and nagging uncertainties surrounding the economic toll from the pandemic.

Smaller, in-home projects have been the bright spot in the sector. During the past two months, as unprecedented restrictions sent workers home and

consigned people to work in bedrooms and at kitchen tables, the home services industry saw consumers fl ip their attitudes about their surroundings.

At fi rst they were scared. Then, they began looking around their homes and decided they needed to get on projects they’d put off for years, said Larry Janesky, a Connecticut-based contractor with 300 dealers and 700 employees refurbishing attics, basements and roofs across the U.S. Basement waterproofi ng and refi nishing projects took off in the past month or so because people realized they needed to upgrade space for a home offi ce. Roofi ng also has shot up, Janesky said.

Before the outbreak, spending on home remodeling was expected to post annual growth of 3.9% by the fi rst quarter of 2021. But the latest data rolling together actual and forecasted impacts of the economic shutdown have led to predictions of declines this year, with more of a drop off into 2021, according to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.

3) Will the momentum last through year’s end? Analysts offer mixed predictions. The biggest wild card: Will the nation endure a challenging Round 2 of infections as summer slips into fall and winter?

The uncertainty has analysts off ering a mixed forecast for what will happen in the category later in the year.

“Whether confi dence returns to undertake large projects could be dictated by the depth and duration of the economic and housing market decline,” wrote Wedbush analysts led by Seth Basham in a note about Home Depot, MarketWatch reported earlier in May. Home construction, home sales and the value of existing homes could take a hit, and homeowners’ moods could play a big part, said Chris Herbert, managing director of the Harvard-based center.

It predicts more aff ordable metros in the Midwest and Sunbelt – including Cleveland, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa and Phoenix – to see some gains through the year, of about 2 to 3%.

One big driver to watch is how small businesses rebound in coming months.

“If the government tells entrepreneurs to stay home, you can’t open ... we’re going to have some real problems,” Janesky said. “I’m cautiously optimistic, depending on how long things drag on.”

AZCENTRAL.COM ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ 13AA

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14AA ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

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AZCENTRAL.COM ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ 15AA

REBUILDING AMERICA EDUCATION

What to expect when schools reopen Scenarios predict hybrid of in-person and at-home Erin Richards USA TODAY

Imagine, for a moment, American children returning to school this fall.

The school week looks vastly diff erent, with most students attending school two or three days a week and doing the rest of their learning at home. At school, desks are spaced apart to discourage touching. Some classrooms extend into unused gymnasiums, libraries or art rooms – left vacant while schools put on hold activities that cram lots of children together.

Arrival, dismissal and recess happen on staggered schedules and through specifi c doors to promote physical distancing. Students eat lunch at their desks. Children learn with the same peers every day – or teachers move around while students stay put – to discourage mingling with new groups.

Teachers and other education staff at higher risk of contracting the virus continue to teach from home, while younger or healthier educators teach in-person.

Everyone washes their hands. A lot.

Frequently touched school surfaces get wiped down. A lot.

That outline of a potential school day was drawn from interviews with more than 20 education leaders determining what reopened schools might look like come fall. New guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supports those plans and more: Teachers and older students should wear masks, especially when they have to interact in close quarters.

In the absence of a vaccine for COVID-19, social distancing and hygiene will be important to limit spreading the virus. The question is how to successfully implement those measures in schools usually fi lled with crowded hallways, class sizes of more than 30 people and lunchrooms of hundreds.

“The whole thing is overwhelming,” said Dan Weisberg, a former district offi cial and the head of TNTP, a nonprofi t formerly known as The New Teacher Project.

“This is where federal dollars could help,” Weisberg said. “This is where state guidance could help. This is where galvanizing people behind the idea on how to plan for next year could help.”

The new CDC guidance on reopening the economy, a 60-page document released in the third week of May, recommends that schools place desks six feet apart, serve lunch in classrooms, close playgrounds, keep children in the same groups every day and cancel fi eld trips and extracurricular activities. It also recommends daily health checks and temperature screenings of staff and students daily, if feasible.

Future Continued from Page 1AA

And in a warehouse near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, a veteran rejoins the workforce to help manufacture the N95 masks needed to keep medical workers and others safe.

Across Arizona, doors are reopening, customers are returning and work is underway.

The state, like the whole world, has been swept by the tragedy of the coronavirus pandemic, and our friends and neighbors are mourning the hundreds of loved ones we’ve lost.

And as The Arizona Republic staff has been here to tell the stories of those who are suff ering, we’re also here to celebrate the people working to build a stronger, safer future for Arizona.

At Honeywell International, an aerospace contractor with roots in Arizona dating to the 1940s, 500 new workers have joined thousands of Arizona-based employees, cranking out masks where jet engines once sat.

One of them was Ursula Warner, a 20year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, who was inspired by the fi ght against COVID-19 and traded retirement for the production line. She was there when President Donald Trump toured the facility.

Warner told Arizona Republic reporter Alison Steinbach that day that she came back to work “to serve this country in a diff erent facet.”

As our communities have taken on a killer virus, we’ve seen that kind of courage and conviction everywhere, in the faces of factory workers and ER nurses, grocery cashiers and food bank volunteers, farmworkers and truck drivers.

Even as we mourn the people who have died, we admire the heart and backbone of so many who are helping us emerge from the crisis. Now, we’re tak-

Staffers install a plastic glass pane on a teacher’s table. ALEX GRIMM/GETTY IMAGES

Baby steps toward reopening A few U.S. schools have cautiously returned to in-person instruction.

In California’s Marin County, three school buildings opened May 18 to serve the most needy students: those with disabilities, and those who had fallen off track in high school and were not participating remotely.

Teachers wearing masks worked with eight cohorts of 12 students across the three schools, offi cials said. Students washed their hands on arrival, and tape marks in classrooms reminded some to keep their distance. New cellphone sign-in systems track who comes in and out.

In Montana, 11 schools reopened after Gov. Steve Bullock turned such decisions over to districts this month.

Willow Creek School, located 40 miles west of Bozeman, reopened on May 7. The tiny K-12 school enrolls 56 students; only 37 returned for in-person instruction.

On a recent afternoon, teachers su-

ing those same steps alongside our fellow Arizonans — cautious steps toward reopening.

A commitment to serve Today, in the special report Rebuilding America, The Republic examines a dozen sectors of our economy and the path toward recovery. The project is part of a nationwide eff ort that includes contributions from thousands of journalists in the USA TODAY Network.

Rebuilding America is one example of our commitment to serve you in a diffi cult time.

In the fi rst weeks of this crisis, The Republic launched a coronavirus newsletter and text-based public health alerts to speed the delivery of pandemic news to your fi ngertips. Reporters have fought with government offi cials — and our newspaper has gone to court — to seek better access to state and federal health data so you know the facts about COVID-19 and its spread inside nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

The Republic’s philanthropic arm, Season for Sharing, turned $1.8 million in grants over to 143 nonprofi ts to use however they needed to weather the short-term consequences of COVID-19.

Thousands of people donate to Season for Sharing to help children and families, older adults and teachers and students.

The Republic joined with its parent company, Gannett, to launch Support Local, a platform to help communities embrace small businesses facing signifi cant economic challenges because of the pandemic.

Arizona’s strong foundation In March, Arizona had one of the most dynamic economies in the nation, coming off an exceptional 2019. The state was projected to grow jobs and population much faster than the United

pervised recess while wearing cloth face masks and holding 6-foot pool noodles.

When recess ended, students lined up on orange circles spray-painted on the sidewalk at evenly marked intervals. As the line moved inside, each student was met at the door with a squirt of hand sanitizer.

The school has implemented staggered schedules and separated desks.

Younger students walk through hallways holding hula-hoops to prevent them from touching things.

‘Economics will drive choices’ Reopening schools is critical to fully bring back the economy. More parents can work when their children are in school. Just as important: Many kids aren’t learning much at home. Those learning the least are students who lack devices and internet access.

Bringing kids back to school presents major worries about health.

Many school buildings lack the space to keep children a recommended six feet

States overall.

It ranked third in the overall rate of job creation, with solid showings in health care, construction, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing.

Spring training was fi lling hotels, and the hospitality and restaurant industries were thriving.

The state’s largest employers, including health care giants Banner Health, Honor Health, Dignity Health and Mayo Foundation, were hiring.

Early-stage startups and tech-savvy entrepreneurs fueled innovative ideas across the business spectrum.

Arizona State University, the nation’s largest single-campus public Burton university, and the University of Arizona were feeding employers’ pipelines, along with Grand Canyon University, Northern Arizona University and community colleges across the state.

Our economy was diversifying and no longer relied strongly on any one industry, as it once did on construction and real estate.

More than 110,300 new residents chose Arizona as their home last year, and the state seemed poised for continued growth.

Hope for the path ahead The business shutdown required by COVID-19 has caused tremendous pain for workers and employers in many fi elds, particularly tourism, leisure, entertainment, food services and retail.

More than 400,000 Arizonans were receiving some form of unemployment benefi ts as of the week ending May 23.

But today’s special report shows Arizona is resilient.

Arizona’s jobless rate skyrocketed from its 4.5% level in January as 14% of the state’s labor force fi led unemploy-

apart. That’s why education leaders foresee a need to continue virtual learning, with kids attending school in person on alternating days or weeks.

And that’s only the start. Districts also must fi gure out food service, especially for the 52% of students who qualify for free- or reduced-price lunches and depend on those meals. Schools must provide enough qualifi ed staff to teach students in smaller groups. They must provide emotional support to staff and students. And they need to develop measures to help catch up children who have fallen the farthest behind.

Then schools have to fi gure out how to pay for it all.

“Economics will drive the choices districts make,” said Marguerite Roza, a professor and director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University.

Superintendents from 62 of the country’s largest school districts have called on Congress to provide about $200 billion more in educational stabilization funds.

ment claims in March and April. But that number will decline. Today, you’ll read about gyms and fi tness centers taking new precautions, stores opening for pickup, health care providers installing innovative new technology — all as people get back to work.

Companies looking to relocate or expand, and residents and workers seeking a fresh start, have looked to Arizona as a destination. Today, you’ll read about real estate agents and home inspectors donning masks to keep working, and a rise in home renovation and repair work.

Two weeks ago, Zoom Video Communications said it is recruiting software engineers for a new research and development center and is looking for space near ASU’s Tempe campus.

A day later, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., announced plans to build a major manufacturing plant in Phoenix. The world’s largest contract manufacturer of silicon chips could bring more than 1,600 jobs, Gov. Doug Ducey said.

At Bevvy, a bar in Scottsdale, general manager Cameron Byram, busy with that tape measure, told our reporters how hard the establishment was working to keep patrons — and its employees — safe.

At International House of Food in Phoenix, owner Juan Cruz told us, “I think people are getting more confi dent, little by little. As long as we do what we promised, we should be OK.” At a shop in Mesa, barber Chet Arnett said through a face mask, “It’s good to be getting back to normal.”

At the Honeywell plant, Ursula Warner said, “I decided I wanted to be ... a part of something bigger.”

Inside businesses large and small, Arizona’s future is bigger than we can imagine. The Republic is here to tell that story.

Greg Burton is executive editor of The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com.

16AA ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

Together We are Stronger

With the support of our customer’s trust in the Hickman brand we have been given the opportunity to support those who need it the most.

“The Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank is so grateful for our many community partnerships.

Without the support of businesses like Hickman’s Family Farms, we would not be able to fulfill our mission or ensure that the people of the southwest valley all have access to delicious and nutritious foods.”

-Leanne Leonard, Executive Director, Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank

“Now more than ever, we have the responsibility to support our vulnerable senior population however we can. The demand for the hot, and ready-to-eat meals from Meals of Joy has increased exponentially over the past three months, and it is our honor to put forth every effort we can to support those who have done so much to take care of us. Your donations, volunteer support and community partnerships are invaluable pieces of our day to day mission to deliver hope, one meal at a time.”

-Larry Cervarich, Founder, Meals of Joy

“We are grateful to Hickman’s Family Farms and all the donors who stepped up to assist Arizona’s most vulnerable children and families during this public health emergency. To our foster families, both kinship and licensed, thank you for giving the children in your care a safe and loving home at a time of uncertainty for all.”

“Our vision is to create an Arizona where all live free of domestic and sexual violence.”

-Myriah Mhoon, CEO, New Life Center

If you need support or want to support New Life Center, visit our website, www.newlifectr.org or call us anytime, at (623) 932-4404.

-Mike Faust, Director, Arizona Department of Child Safety

“We are truly grateful to Hickman’s Family Farms for their deep commitment to our community and their continued partnership to help us feed, clothe, house and heal individuals and families in need of support.”

-Steve Zabilski, Executive Director

To learn more, visit stvincentdepaul.net

“As we rebuild Arizona’s economy, remember that Arizona’s small businesses will be leading the charge.”

-Kimber Lanning, Founder and Executive Director, Local First Arizona.

Together we will Rebuild

AZCENTRAL.COM ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ 17AA

REBUILDING AMERICA FINANCES/INVESTING

Banks will keep providing fi nancial services Protective barriers likely to see increased usage Russ Wiles

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

The banking industry never closed during the coronavirus outbreak, providing essential fi nancial services to individuals and businesses despite shutting down some branches and reducing hours and services at others.

The industry will continue to provide help indefi nitely, with some temporary and permanent changes in the works.

“For the time being, temporarily closed branches remain closed,” said LiAna Enriquez, a Wells Fargo spokeswoman in Phoenix. The company might soon ease some restrictions, such as requiring lobby visits by appointment, but that will be done on a case-by-base basis, she said.

A ‘grocery-store look’ Various health and safety precautions adopted by Wells Fargo and others will continue, including protective barriers, social-distancing measures, staggering staff and shifts, enhanced branch cleaning and an emphasis on drive-up teller services.

“It’s going to have a grocery-store look, with sneeze guards at teller stations and decals on the fl oor telling people where to wait,” said Mike Brown, Arizona regional president for WaFd Bank.

The company’s 31 branches around the state will reopen around June 1 with these and other safeguards in mind, including limits on the numbers of people who may enter lobbies at one time, he said.

In many ways, banks and other fi nancial companies were well-prepared for the coronavirus outbreak because so many of their customers are used to conducting most if not all transactions over computers and smart phones, rarely visiting offi ces.

“For those who have been doing online banking, it was no big deal,” said Brown.

One change that could become more prominent is the use of electronic signatures to prepare documents. WaFd prepared thousands of Paycheck Protection Program loans in recent weeks as that federal program rolled out, and customers signed electronically.

“That was a fi rst for us,” Brown said.

A broader societal change could see decreased use of currency, coins and checks. With so many digital and electronic payment options available, peo-

“For the time being, temporarily closed branches remain closed,” a Wells Fargo spokeswoman said. SEAN LOGAN/THE REPUBLIC

ple no longer need to touch paper and metal that could carry the virus.

Insurance companies such as State Farm are now relying more on virtual inspections, electronic handling of claims and other functions that don’t require in-person meetings.

“Before this situation unfolded we had undergone a digital transformation, which laid the foundation for customers to reach us on the channel of their choice,” said Angie Harrier, a spokeswoman for the company.

Banks: What’s new

Personal help still needed

goals — to say nothing of new incometax complexities and regulatory changes aff ecting retirement accounts, mortgages and much more.

“This is a time when (fi nancial) customers need reassurance and someone to speak to,” said a report by Accenture on possible changes ahead for the banking industry specifi cally. “Use it as an

Video conferencing also is gaining traction as bankers, insurance agents, investment advisers and others reach out to customers. Look for that trend to continue, especially as more people have suff ered income losses or investment setbacks that imperil long-term

❚ More focus on helping the elderly and other vulnerable customers. ❚ Increased emphasis on online transactions, virtual meetings through videoconferencing. ❚ Staggered shifts, reduced hours and social distancing measures in branches. ❚ Further opportunities to provide fi nancial counseling and advice.

opportunity to connect and talk to these clients.”

This is one reason Accenture, a global professional-services fi rm, expects banks and fi nancial fi rms will retain many of their branches or other offi ces, even as digital communications continue to fl ourish.

Accenture also sees other changes ahead for fi nancial companies as the economy reopens, ranging from special lobby hours for seniors and vulnerable customers to greater education eff orts by companies to help customers who aren’t technologically literate become more accustomed to digital transactions.

“This could very well accelerate many trends that were already shaping the banking industry,” Accenture said in its report.

Reach the reporter at russ.wiles@ar izonarepublic.com or 602-444-8616.

Pandemic upends how we work and spend Americans may put off purchases, retirement

return to work. But she’s anxious.

The fi nancial blow from job losses like Liu’s could spawn a more cautious mindset, especially for college grads as well as millennials whose careers were detoured when they entered the workforce during the Great Recession and now face another setback.

“Saving and risk-taking will probably change for a whole generation,” says Andrew Chamberlain, chief economist of Glassdoor, the job posting site.

Paul Davidson and Jessica Menton USA TODAY

Wynne Beckmann has worked in retail for 13 years, through the upheaval of the Great Recession a decade ago. But getting furloughed from her job at a Westchester, New York, mall in March felt diff erent.

“This is an eye-opener. I don’t know how much longer I can do retail,” says Beckmann, a 32-year-old assistant manager at LOFT, a women’s clothing store. “If things don’t change, I’ll have to take my marketing degree somewhere else. Maybe Amazon or Glossier, somewhere that puts e-commerce fi rst.”

Long after the public health threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic eases, the crisis could spur lasting changes in how Americans work, spend, save and invest, experts say.

Many like Beckmann are grappling with a future that may mean fewer jobs at stores and restaurants and more technology positions. It’s a future where a generation of shaken young Americans may pull back on spending and older workers put off retirement to replenish depleted nest eggs.

“I think this is a life-changing event,” says Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics. “People are shellshocked.”

In March, most states issued stay-athome orders and shut down nonessential businesses to curb the spread of the virus, largely shuttering restaurants, malls, theaters and factories. The ripple eff ects resulted in a record 20.5 million layoff s in April and a 14.7% unemployment rate, highest since the Great Depression.

As many as 10 million more job cuts are expected in May, pushing unemployment to about 20%, before the economy could begin to recover as early as June.

Jobs

Thirty percent of adults have seen their household income fall as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a Bankrate survey. GETTY IMAGES

But the rebound is likely to be halting.

Many Americans remain fearful of contracting the virus until a vaccine is widely available, possibly by the second half of next year. They’re expected to return to restaurants and other gathering spots warily.

The crisis could leave enduring damage. Although about 90% of unemployed workers in April said they were on temporary layoff , some economists worry that many won’t be called back.

Spending and saving American households have signifi cantly cut their spending and increased their savings during the crisis. They socked away 13% of their income in March, up from 8% in February and highest since 1981, government fi gures show. In April, sales fell 79% at clothing stores, 61% at electronics and appliance stores, and 59% at furniture outlets.

Much of the drop-off isn’t surprising considering most restaurants and stores were closed. But with 39 million

Americans laid off , furloughed or forced to work fewer hours, 30% of adults have seen their household income fall, according to a recent Bankrate survey. Despite squirreling away more of their income, nearly one in fi ve adults have less in emergency savings than before the pandemic.

Michelle Liu, a sales associate at Dillard’s department store in Charlotte, North Carolina, saw her hours cut in mid-March when the pandemic hit.

Then the 36-year-old, who works at the SouthPark shopping mall, was furloughed within a matter of weeks.

Liu, who had been stashing money away for school and dental work, struggled to receive unemployment checks for over a month and was forced to pull from her savings to help pay insurance premiums, along with groceries and car repairs for her father.

“It’s been hard. My savings have completely dropped,” Liu says. “Now I have to start from scratch.”

Liu, who was initially furloughed until at least July, has now been asked to

Both restaurants and theaters could see fewer patrons because of less demand and more spacing requirements between tables or seats. Kuznetsova expects growth in dine-in movie theaters, perhaps with some restaurants and theaters merging. That will mean fewer jobs over the long term. At the same time, she foresees a possible renaissance in drive-in movie theaters, providing new jobs.

Zandi expects retailers to install ordering kiosks and other automated systems to increase productivity and better withstand another downturn, a strategy that would further reduce jobs.

The move to online banking during the shutdown is also likely to endure to some extent, requiring fewer employees at branches, a McKinsey study says.

Retirement planning Many workers’ retirement savings plans have taken a hit. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index is 15% below its Feb. 19 peak. In late March, 63% of workers were confi dent about having enough money to live comfortably in retirement, down from 69% in January, according to a survey by the Employee Benefi t Research Institute.

Among those laid off or furloughed – or who expected to be in the next six months – just 47% said they were confi dent in their retirement fi nances.

Contributing: Dalvin Brown

18AA ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

REBUILDING AMERICA AUTOS

In Arizona, a hot market for auto sales Ryan Randazzo

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

Car dealerships, which never shut down in Arizona due to the new coronavirus pandemic, are focusing more intensely on cleaning and sanitizing showrooms, but may face a bigger challenge from a short supply of certain vehicle models.

After Gov. Doug Ducey issued a stayat-home order in March, dealerships didn’t see as big of a pullback from consumers as other industries. Taxable sales on autos in March in Arizona were down about 18%, compared with a 34% decline for restaurants and a 50% decline for clothing stores, according to state fi gures.

Whatever purchases consumers put off early in the pandemic mostly appear to be coming back now, said Brent Berge, who runs Riverview Toyota in Mesa and whose family has a variety of dealerships.

“Demand is higher than supply,” Berge said. “We have new inventory on the ground, but by the end of May, early June, we will have maybe one-third of what we normally have.”

Riverview sold its last Tacoma truck on the lot in late May, and Berge expects the shortage to linger for six to eight months as automakers try to catch up after shutting factories for weeks at a time.

“The manufacturers are working overtime, but they are all on stringent guidelines, so they can’t produce as many vehicles as they could in a day or hour as they could in the past,” he said.

Buyers are taking advantage of deals — Riverview Toyota is off ering 90 days of deferred payments — and low interest rates, Berge said.

He’s never seen anything like the current situation.

“I’ve run into this before — not having enough inventory on the ground, that was when the tsunami hit (Japan) in 2011,” he said. “But having incentives and running out of vehicles, that is a new one for me.”

A lot of cleaning and no handshakes Besides the supply constraints, dealerships like other businesses are focusing on keeping things clean. Multiple dealerships in the Phoenix area are advertising the ability to make purchases without visiting those locations, along with practices such as social distancing if customers do come.

The Earnhardt Hyundai dealership in

Joe Mattfeld hands the car key to Dee Johnston, 81, after delivering her serviced car on May 20 in Mesa.

SEAN LOGAN/THE REPUBLIC

north Scottsdale, for example, notes on its website that among the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to avoid shaking hands.

“To the extent possible (and until the virus is controlled) avoid shaking hands,” the Hyundai dealership says on its website. “We will do the same!”

And like other businesses, dealerships are emphasizing that workers who feel sick should not come to work, and many meetings and other gatherings of several employees at a time have been canceled.

Courtesy Chevrolet owner Scott Gruwell penned a letter to customers on his website that emphasizes all of the proactive measures the dealership is taking to limit the spread of the virus.

“To be clear, we have no knowledge of a single positive test for the coronavirus within the Courtesy organization,” Gruwell said. “These latest measures are taken purely as a matter of precaution and have been recommended to slow the spread of the virus within our community. As always, the health and wellbeing of all employees and their families is our top priority.”

What’s new at car dealerships? ❚ Emphasis on “no-contact” sales for customers who prefer not to visit the dealership. ❚ Social distancing and heavy focus on cleanliness. ❚ Limited inventory for some vehicles that’s likely to persist for months.

Riverview Toyota hired a company to disinfect the entire dealership weekly, and reassigned one employee as the “chief sanitation offi cer,” making that person responsible for cleaning up and disinfecting areas where customers or employees have been.

“We are trying to let our customers know that we are doing everything here we possibly can,” Berge said.

A lesson from Disney World Employees at the dealership can wear masks if they like, and they ask every customer if that person prefers the worker wear a mask while speaking

with them, Berge said.

“If my employees want to wear a mask, they can wear a mask,” he said. “If a customer has one on, we ask right away, ‘Do you feel more comfortable if I wear one?’”

Berge also installed 60 hand-sanitizer stations around the dealership, citing something he learned from a meeting with Disney executives years ago.

“They said the average human will take 10 steps with trash in their hand before dropping it, so if you walk Disney World, there is a trash every eight steps,” he said.

The dealership already had an online ordering system where buyers could order a car and sign a contract remotely, having the vehicle delivered to their home without ever stepping into the dealership. But even with the pandemic, the increase in its use has been small, he said.

Often, customers begin a transaction that way but later opt to come in and sign documents in person and pick up the vehicle.

“You’re buying a $40,000 vehicle, you want the feel and experience that goes with it,” Berge said.

Car buyers are now in the driver’s seat Dealerships delivering vehicles to customers

“The sales associate sitting in the showroom waiting for the customer to come in won’t exist past COVID,” Borches said. “They need to create relationships in person and online.”

Jamie L. LaReau

Detroit Free Press USA TODAY NETWORK

At some point, we’ve all felt like a chump in a car dealership showroom, waiting for the salesperson to emerge from a shrouded back offi ce where they presumably spent the last 20 minutes pushing a hard-nosed manager to chip another hundred bucks off the price of that car you’re haggling over.

After hours at the dealership, it feels like an endless game that you’re destined to lose.

But that exhausting and enigmatic car-buying process at bricks-and-mortar stores will be a relic of the past in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, industry experts predict. Mandated stay-home orders have forced car buyers and dealers to adopt a new “bricksand-clicks” model instead.

“I can order my groceries to my door, I can order new running shoes to my door ... every part of our life right now is delivered,” said Jessica Staff ord, general manager of Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book. “Our studies have shown that in the COVID-19 world, I want to be able to have a virtual walk around the car and be able to talk to the dealer. You bring it to my house, it’s clean and I can test it. If I do buy it, you bring it back to my house for fi nal delivery.”

Many dealers already do some sales online, but few had off ered home delivery prior to the pandemic. The emerging car buying model puts the buyer in the driver’s seat with transparent pricing and more options. Those dealers who can’t adapt to it will die, industry observers said.

In control of the transaction Jonathan Winingham, 34, of Cartersville, Virginia, likes being in control

Ease and speed of the sale

A customer looks at trucks at Longo Toyota on May 8 in El Monte, Calif. More people are buying cars without having to leave their homes these days. AP

when he’s buying a car.

Winingham knew he wanted a 2020 Honda Pilot SUV to replace his 9-yearold Toyota Sienna minivan.

So in early May, Winingham, a fi refi ghter and paramedic who works 72 hours a week, shopped online and found a Pilot in silvery blue. He closed the deal largely online and was prepared to drive nearly two hours to Carter Myers Automotive’s Valley Honda in Staunton, Virginia, to get his new car. But he didn’t have to.

“They off ered to deliver it and they showed up with gloves and masks on to my home and everything was sanitized,” Winingham said. “They let me test drive it at my house and it was perfect. We signed the paperwork and that was it.”

For Winingham, price is the determining factor in a purchase. He has used online shopping in the past to fi nd the best deal, once saving $4,000 on a past purchase, then driving to a Kentucky dealership to take delivery.

But this experience, with home deliv-

ery, has convinced Winingham there’s no other way to buy a car in the future.

“I can sit in my home,” Winingham said. “I don’t have to go to a dealership and go through that eight-hour process and then wait to sign the paperwork.”

Traditional salesmen gone Carter Myers Automotive in Charlottesville, Virginia, which has 15 stores throughout the state, has seen its online vehicle purchasing steadily grow since mid-March.

Its home deliveries have shot up from less than 5% of new-vehicle sales to nearly a quarter of all sales, said Liza Borches, CEO of Carter Myers Automotive.

Borches said she expects online buying and home delivery to proliferate.

The biggest change Borches expects after coronavirus for her is in hiring.

Gone are the traditional car salesmen.

They are being replaced by product experts who are well versed at communicating across all mediums.

On the other side of the country, online sales fi t the Del Grande Dealer Group in San Jose, California. The group already off ers no-haggle used-car pricing. It has competitively priced new vehicles to require little negotiation, said Jeremy Beaver, president of Del Grande.

But before the pandemic, the group did zero home deliveries. That changed in April when it delivered all the cars it sold “because we had to,” Beaver said referring to the lockdown.

He sees home delivery as the new normal now. It off ers dealers a chance to win new customers by providing stellar service.

“Right now, it’s due to safety, because people don’t want to leave their house,” Beaver said. “In the future, it’ll be the ease of the transaction and the speed.

There is no waiting. If you do have to come to the dealership, you just have to check a couple of boxes and you’re done.”

Driving ‘ahead of the herd’ Dimmitt Chevrolet Inc. in Clearwater, Florida, has done a “handful” of home deliveries since March, but online transactions have “increased dramatically,” owner Larry Dimmitt said. The buyers still come to the store to get the vehicle, where he has outdoor desks set up.

A third-generation dealer who has run his store since 1972, Dimmitt knows how to survive. He said online sales and home delivery are the future.

“The harder and quicker we adapt to that, the further out ahead of the herd we will be,” Dimmitt said. “It’ll deal a bit of blow to some of the weaker, more remote stores.”

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AZCENTRAL.COM ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ 21AA

REBUILDING AMERICA SPORTS

Resuming play will take teamwork Step-by-step program keeps slow, steady pace Richard Obert

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

They take their temperature before leaving home. They wash their hands, pack their own water and ball and head to the park.

As they get out of the car, they wipe their hands with sanitizer and, with a coach’s direction, take their own ball to the cone where they’re stationed — a good distance from the next-closest players.

Anyone who drove them to practice must wait in the car, if they’re staying.

Welcome to Phase 1, the beginning of a step-by-step return to the world of youth sports.

Can this be a model for what will follow in Arizona high school sports?

During the coronavirus pandemic that stopped sports at all levels in midMarch, much attention has been paid to the professional and college ranks. But it is high school and youth sports where the impact is felt closest to home. Sports truly will not have returned completely without the lights of high school football Fridays, or the buzz of dozens of girls soccer clubs competing at a weekend tournament.

Recently at the Scottsdale Sports Complex, 30 high-school age male soccer players took a baby step back to a semblance of normalcy.

Two months of Zoom meetings, home workouts, fi lm work, texting and online

Gavin Quezada works out as part of a soccer program with Real Salt Lake Arizona on May 18 at the Scottsdale Sports Complex. ROB SCHUMACHER/THE REPUBLIC

school led to a reopening of sorts. There are no games, there is no contact, but there are coaches leading instruction on a fi eld, not in a virtual meeting via computer or smart phone.

Real Salt Lake-AZ runs a “stay at home” virtual training series on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays that’s received 20,000 views.

“The second day,” Scottsdale Chaparral junior midfi elder Sebastian Mentis said when asked how long it took for the Zoom meetings to get old. “This is at least a good fi rst step to get back in the swing of things.”

Even if it is a slow, phased approach, one that come without hugs and handshakes and training around cones and grids, with lots of spacing and no physical contact, “at least it’s something,”

Mentis said.

“It’s a good start,” he said.

RSL-AZ, part of the largest youth club soccer program in the country, launched its Phase 1 training at three locations, Snedigar Park in Chandler, Salt River on the reservation and the Scottsdale Sports Complex.

In Arizona, there are about 12,000 youth players across ages in the Real Salt Lake program. In the organization as a whole, there are closer to 25,000 with clubs in El Paso, Las Vegas, San Diego, Salt Lake City and Mexico.

“We want to get back to normal,” said Brent Erwin, executive director of RSLAZ. “We would like to play in tournament. But we need to do all of these phases correctly. For us to get to that, we have to do this correctly.”

By the time Phase 4 comes in, games and tournaments will be played again.

But when will that come? Much of that depends on how far the states have reopened.

“I read an article that youth sports in general have a bigger economic impact on the nation than the NFL, because we rent fi elds, we travel and stay in hotels to play in tournaments,” Erwin said. “I think it’s an important thing for everybody to get back to it. But we have to do these steps.”

All over Arizona, there are yellow caution fl ags, along with still stop signs as youths try to re-engage with teammates.

High school football coaches are waiting to hear from their districts when they’re given a green light to start team workouts that were missed by the cancellation of spring football, which would normally have ended last week at most high schools.

Steve McDowell, athletic director of the Gilbert Public Schools, said there will be a four-phase football reentry that is to be voted on by the governing board.

Chandler schools are waiting for Gov. Doug Ducey to say that schools can rent their fi elds and reopen them for their athletes and coaches.

“First and foremost, our focus will always be to make sure our student-athletes are safe,” Chandler Hamilton Athletic Director Brett Palmer said. “We obviously are hoping to get some type of inperson summer camps going. Right now, the situation can change daily, weekly, monthly, etc.

“The biggest thing we are working on See SPORTS, Page 36AA

Arizona’s sports world reopening, an inch at a time Mark Faller

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

Getting back to work in Arizona for pro and college sports teams is a work in

progress. Right down the line, leagues are waiting for guidance from government and health offi cials before any semblance of normal activity resumes.

As the sports year heads for June, here’s what fans need to know:

❚ Games, but no fans. It started with UFC and NASCAR. The PGA Tour resumes June 11 in Texas. But even as sports return, there are no concrete plans in place, short or long term, for allowing spectators to attend events. For

now, “sports bubbles” restricted to competitors, support staff and other necessary personnel will be the norm. However, by the time some of Arizona’s preSee SPORTS WORLD, Page 38AA

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22AA ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

REBUILDING AMERICA SPORTS

A new way to watch (and hear) live sports Expect innovation with stadiums, arenas empty Jeff Zillgitt, Bob Nightengale and Jarrett Bell USA TODAY

Watching live sports on TV without fans is like a ballpark frank without mustard. You need the cheers after a great play and the boos from the disappointed home fans. You need that obnoxious fan behind the visitor’s bench or the fan holding a clever sign.

Fans are integral to watching sports.

Or are they?

As leagues look to return during the coronavirus pandemic, fans won’t be in attendance at least at the start, and that will be strange. But we’re living in strange times.

How will sports look, sound and feel on TV in the U.S. when play resumes? A few clues can be found from baseball in South Korea and soccer in Germany.

“We’re not going to fool anybody with no fans,” ESPN senior vice president of production and remote events, including baseball, Mark Gross said. “It’s a live baseball game. Our job is to televise the game, and to make it as compelling to watch as we can with the obstacles of no crowds."

Leagues and college conferences, along with their TV partners, are grappling with three main components: how to compensate for empty arenas and stadiums, fan engagement and player and coach audio.

They’re also considering how many production people will need to be on location, how many camera angles to use and whether announcers will call games on site or from an off -site studio.

“So many sports have started to go that way, so many Olympic sports,” TV sports reporter Andrea Kremer said. “In Sochi and Rio (Olympics), they were being commentated from a studio in Stamford, (Connecticut) where NBC (Sports) is located.”

Leagues and networks have not pinpointed how it will look and sound as they explore ideas. The viewing experience likely will evolve as games are played as some ideas work, some fail

Cardboard pictures of fans replaced actual fans as German soccer club Borussia Moenchengladbach played host to Bayer 04 Leverkusen. INA FASSBENDER, AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

and new ones are introduced.

“We’re really focused on the best possible experience for our fans wherever and however they’re watching our games and trying to bring that community feeling to watching games even if fans are apart,” NBA senior director of domestic programming and content strategy Sara Zuckert said. “We’re looking at ways to bring fans together digitally and to give them ways to interact with what’s going on in the venue and in the telecast to make them feel more connected.”

Now is an excellent time to experiment with new and emerging technologies, and leagues have talked with multiple tech companies. Leagues were already exploring some of these ideas before the pandemic.

But the most interesting aspect to fans, especially for the NBA: player audio.

As much as sports is visual, it’s also audible, and in a fan-less environment, fans want access to the interactions among players, coaches and referees.

Who doesn't want to hear the chatter, trash talk, complaints, strategy and some colorful language?

When asked about broadcasting those interactions as they happen for fans watching on TV to hear, the NBA’s Zuckert said, “Unlike the other sports, we’re positioned a little bit diff erently in that we have music during our games in

We Are Open & Here For YOU

normal times. I do think that music and audio will still come through on the telecast in that respect.”

The NBA may use music and other sound, such as artifi cial noise, to mask some of what is said live.

Also, coaches may not want everything they say in huddles during timeouts aired. When Golden State coach Steve Kerr told Kevin Durant a Michael Jordan story during a timeout of a playoff game – Kerr implored Durant to trust his teammates – it was compelling coach-player talk. But Kerr wasn’t thrilled it was aired.

It’s possible the NBA televises more of those conversations during a break in play – after producers have had time to make sure the language is safe for all ages and strategy isn’t revealed.

Fred Gaudelli, executive producer of NBC’s Sunday Night Football, said he understands the interest in hearing what’s said on the fi eld. He also knows he may not have the autonomy to broadcast everything.

“One of the technological advances to having no crowd is that you’ll hear the signals,” Gaudelli said. “You’ll hear the off ensive signals, you’ll hear the defensive signals, you’ll hear coaches yelling.

You’ll be able to hear all of that.

“Now, will the NFL put protocols in place to limit that? I don’t know because

it’s going to be the same for every game and for every team. So, there’s no competitive advantage or disadvantage, and I’m sure some teams will probably adjust to that and do things as if they’re on the road all the time – where all the communications are hand signals, and the (snap) count is silent and all that.

“We defi nitely plan to take advantage of anything that is presented to us if you can even say there is one for not having people in the stands.”

MLB would love to have more players mic’d up when games return, but that’s an issue that must be resolved between the league and players association.

“When it comes to mic’ing players, certainly, we like to mic the players as much as we can,” Gross said. “The feedback we got from viewers (in spring training) has been great.”

The adjustment to seeing empty arenas and stadiums will take time, and invested parties are working on ways to counterbalance that. It might be something as simple as concealing the lower bowl of an arena or stadium with a tarplike cover to hide empty seats, allowing networks to either run advertising, images or messages.

The Korean Baseball Organization placed placards featuring drawings of fans in masks throughout the stadium, and Germany’s Bundesliga used cardboard cutouts of actual fan faces, costing about $20 per fan to have their face placed in a stadium seat. KBO also used similar cutouts.

The use of virtual fans is also a possibility, and there are tech companies that can produce that. Players on the court won’t likely won't be able to see those virtual fans, but viewers at home could.

However, that is costly and may not be possible to do all game every game.

Another possibility: using a Zoomlike app in the arena or stadium to show fans watching from home – similar to the screen used at NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s house for April’s NFL Draft.

“We want to bring fans the best possible look and feel of the game and the most engaging game that we can,” Zuckert said, “and still create that genuine feeling even if by nature things wind up looking slightly diff erent.”

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24AA ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

REBUILDING AMERICA

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

Housing market is heating back up With ‘very low inventory,’ prices have stayed high Catherine Reagor Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

Metro Phoenix’s housing market slowed quickly in the early days of COVID-19 but is showing signs of bouncing back.

New listings and home sales cancellations climbed in March when many homeowners and homebuyers were worried about making mortgage payments as unemployment soared.

The Valley’s real estate industry didn’t stop though. Real estate agents, mortgage brokers, title agencies, home builders, appraisers and home inspectors donned masks, gloves and fi gured out how to keep home sales going during the health and economic crisis.

Now, pending home sales in the Phoenix area are climbing again, prompting housing analysts to call for less of a housing market slowdown this summer than previously expected.

“We have very low inventory, which will keep the housing market from collapsing,” said Mark Stapp, real estate expert and director of the Master of Real Estate Development program at ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business. “It will take until early to mid-July to see the full impact on the market.”

He said how much the Valley’s housing market cools will depend on how many people receive benefi ts from the government stimulus package and if those benefi ts are enough to help people avoid credit problems, evictions, foreclosures and taking on more credit-card debt.

No crash expected Metro Phoenix’s housing market started 2020 so strong, housing analysts said it would take a catastrophe to slow it.

Then when the novel coronavirus hit the U.S., housing experts forecasted home sales could slow by as much as 80% during this summer.

But based on an almost 50% increase in contracts signed to buy Valley homes since then, Tina Tamboer, senior real estate analyst with the Phoenix-based Cromford Report, said COVID-19’s impact on the housing market likely will not be that extreme.

“Home sales have turned the corner, and it doesn’t look like prices will be impacted signifi cantly,” Tamboer said.

“More sellers are off ering concessions, but we aren’t seeing a big decline in home prices.”

She and other housing market experts don’t see a crash looming for the Valley’s housing market.

Less of a slowdown than expected Metro Phoenix’s median home price

Real estate agent Christa Lawcock, right, shows off a space to prospective clients at Regency Towers in Phoenix on April 24. As they toured the apartment, Lawcock wore a mask and took other precautions against the COVID-19 pandemic.

PHOTOS BY THOMAS HAWTHORNE/THE REPUBLIC

hit a record of $302,500 in March based on sales contracts signed pre-pandemic in January and February.

Home sales, a lagging indicator, still will be down during late spring and early summer.

“It’s clear now Phoenix-area home sales are better than our initial projections,” said Arizona housing expert Jim Belfi ore. “We are now projecting second-quarter sales will come in 50% below where they were last year.”

He said while resale home prices have moderated, new home prices continue to climb due to demand from buyers.

March 2020 was the best month for new home sales since the housing boom in 2005.

Real estate industry kept going Metro Phoenix’s real estate industry quickly transformed to deal with the requirements of a state on coronavirus lockdown.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, who issued a stay-at-home order that lasted some six and a half weeks, deemed certain industries, including real estate, as essential and allowed them to continue to operate.

Real estate agents, home inspectors and those who work at title agencies, mortgage fi rms and home builders shifted more services online, provided masks to employees and customers and installed makeshift hand-washing sta-

the home builder’s April sales were done via technology and not in person from start to fi nish.

That’s more than double from last year.

Forecast

Lawcock uses a paper towel to open the balcony door at an apartment at Regency Towers in Phoenix on April 24.

“People need a place to live. Home sales aren’t going to stop. We just need to be careful” as we continue to hold open houses and meet with potential clients, she said.

tions.

“People need a place to live. Home sales aren’t going to stop,” said Phoenix real estate agent Christa Lawcock of Realty Executives, who continued to hold open houses. “We just need to be careful.”

Virtual home tours jumped during the past few months, and technology made real estate transactions easier and faster.

Sheryl Palmer, CEO of Scottsdalebased Taylor Morrison, said that 20% of

The stock market crash due to COVID-19 has impacted the Valley’s luxury housing market the most, which is typical as those buyers and sellers lose the most money when share prices fall.

But metro Phoenix fares better in recessions that aren’t real estate driven.

“Remember in 2008, the stock market crashed because of real estate,” she said. “Real estate doesn’t crash because of the stock market.”

Belfi ore is forecasting third-quarter Phoenix-area home sales will be 30% below 2020’s third-quarter pace.

What home buyers can expect It’s still a seller’s market in metro Phoenix, but there are fewer bidding wars on the most aff ordable homes.

More sellers are off ering concessions now, including paying some closing costs.

Mortgage lenders are requiring higher credit scores because of economic concerns.

Reach the reporter at Catherine.Re agor@arizonarepublic.com or 602-4448040. Follow her on Twitter @Cather inereagor.

Where — and how — to buy home evolving Video tours, suburbs vs. cities highlight changes Charisse Jones and Jessica Menton USA TODAY

Jessica Chamorro’s dream of owning her fi rst home was upended in March after she was furloughed from her catering job at a hotel chain in Tampa, Florida.

She and her husband, who have three children, had just started their pre-approval process to purchase a home this summer when the pandemic hit. Now their plans have been put on hold after the hotel industry was battered by travel restrictions and lockdowns. They are currently stuck in a 1,000-square-foot rental that they had been staying in temporarily to stash money away for a down payment.

“I feel like the rug has been pulled out from under us,” Chamorro, 38, says.

“Our goal was to get out. Now we’re stuck in this tiny house. It worries me because we were already living on top of each other to save money. I don’t know if I’ll even have a job to go back to.”

Like Chamorro, millennials and other younger Americans starting families and hitting their professional stride were poised this spring to achieve another milestone — buying their fi rst home. Then the coronavirus hit, shuttering open houses, delaying deals, and causing would-be buyers to push pause as they worried about their health and the fate of their jobs.

Now, applications to buy a home are again on the rise as states lift orders to stay inside. But the pandemic has altered how residential property is bought

The coronavirus pandemic has changed how we buy and sell homes.

GETTY IMAGES

and sold, changes that aren’t likely to disappear any time soon and that could reshape the American dream long after the current crisis has passed.

The new reality will greet many of the buyers and sellers easing back into a thawing market.

Mortgage applications dropped 25% in April as compared to the month before, and were 12% below their total during the same month last year, as stay-at home mandates reached their peak, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

But millennials remain eager to buy a place of their own, experts say. And with interest rates hovering at 3.41%, a near record low, a housing rebound could start as soon as this summer.

“You still have a lot of households at the point where they’re interested in home buying,” says Mike Fratantoni, chief economist for the MBA. “As some states have begun to reopen, we’ve seen a rapid pickup and ... very strong growth in purchase applications. And now

we’re running only about 10% behind where we were last year.”

In Texas, North Carolina and Georgia, purchase applications have actually risen in comparison to 2019. And Fratantoni expects home sales for all of 2020 to be only 2% below last year.

“It all depends on how the pandemic evolves from here,” he says, but currently, the future of home sales is “looking really, surprisingly strong.”

The National Association of Realtors is slightly less optimistic about this year’s forecast, predicting home sales will be 10% to 15% lower than 2019.

But “sales will be higher by 15% to 20% in 2021 because more listings will steadily appear as the state economies steadily reopen,” says Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.

Head for the hills — or at least the suburbs A growing number of those sales might be in less crowded communities.

A survey by NAR found that 5% of members said the coronavirus pandemic was causing their clients to shift their sights away from cities to the suburbs.

And 13% said the virus had made buyers prioritize a diff erent home feature, such as a home offi ce, or extra room where relatives could stay, as they considered what property to buy.

“Remote work will become more prevalent,’’ Yun said of the home buying landscape in the wake of COVID-19.

“That means there is less need to be close to the job centers. Suburbs and exurbs (areas situated beyond the suburbs and in, or adjacent to, rural areas) will get a greater interest. In addition, a larger single-family home with extra elbow

room will be desired, such as dedicated offi ce space and a personal gym.”

Buying online, using a virtual notary Those who are able to buy a home may fi nd that much, if not all, of the process has gone virtual. Brokers have been able to use FaceTime and other platforms to give video tours of houses for years.

But those tools became critical during the pandemic when sellers became reluctant to have strangers traipsing through their homes.

Among sellers with active listings, the NAR survey found 68% wanted prospective buyers to use hand sanitizer, to use coverings for their shoes and face, or to wash their hands before entering their homes. When it came to home inspectors, 53% of sellers wanted them to take similar safety measures.

Brokerages like Redfi n, which has offi ces in more than 90 metro areas across the U.S. and Canada, canceled open houses as the coronavirus crisis escalated. And video walk-throughs became a common substitute for in-person visits.

NAR’s May survey found that among members who had a buyer put a contract on a home that week, 22% said the purchaser had only seen the property virtually.

But live walk-throughs are not likely to disappear, says Scott Elwell, Douglas Elliman Real Estate’s regional vice president of sales for Westchester County, New York, and New England.

“Nothing will replace the experience of walking through a house and property,” Elwell says.

Contributing: Michael Braga

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26AA ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

REBUILDING AMERICA RESTAURANTS

These restaurant tips are for diners Customers can take steps to keep experience safe

5. Eat at off-peak times For diners looking to visit restaurants when they are the least crowded, guidance from the governor’s offi ce suggests eating at unusual times.

“When you do dine-in, consider dining during off -peak hours (for example, early morning, mid-afternoon, or late night),” the guidelines say, a sentiment Riske echoed.

“Guests who are apprehensive about dining during peak hours should plan on dining with us from 10-11:30 a.m., 1-5 p.m., or 7-8 p.m. (9 p.m. on weekends),” she wrote.

Even if ordering takeout, unusual times will help customers place orders and get their meals faster while avoiding lines and crowds.

Tirion Morris

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

Gov. Doug Ducey announced on May 4 that Arizona restaurants can reopen for dine-in service starting May 11.

Following the announcement of his offi ce, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Arizona Restaurant Association and others released guidelines on how restaurant owners can keep customers safe in their dining rooms as they reopen.

But Arizona experts, including restaurant owners and small business advocates, say there are measures diners can take to help protect themselves and staff while eating out.

Here are six tips from metro Phoenix food and beverage industry leaders about how customers can support restaurants as they try to keep diners and staff safe.

1. Be vigilant about social distance Leah Huss is co-owner of Huss Brewing Co. The brewery does a large portion of is business through selling canned beer at grocery stores but also operates a taproom in Tempe and a restaurant in uptown Phoenix.

Both locations reopened for dine-in service on May 11.

“The biggest thing that we have been concerned about and that would really be helpful is if customers do their best to be aware of their physical distancing,” Huss wrote in an email. “We can only do so much to keep people apart.”

That leaves some of the responsibility on customers to make sure they’re vigilant about maintaining distance, respecting other customers’ and staff members’ space.

2. Call ahead and make a reservation Bevvy, a pub and restaurant with locations in Scottsdale and uptown Phoenix, reopened on May 11 with strict guidelines in place.

To avoid the need for so many disposable copies, restaurant owner Julian Wright suggests diners call menus up on their phones. THOMAS HAWTHORNE/THE REPUBLIC

Cameron Byram, general manager of the Scottsdale location, says one of the most helpful things customers can do is make a reservation.

“Our phones blew up the day Governor Ducey announced restaurants could reopen,” Byram said. “People are excited to get out and to be among other people even if it’s six feet apart.”

By making reservations, customers can help restaurants plan for how many people might come in. It also allows time for staff to have properly sanitized tables ready when customers arrive and to limit the number of people waiting in line to be seated.

While reservations are not required at Bevvy, they are “very, very highly recommended,” Byram said.

3. Bring hand sanitizer (and maybe your own crayons) Most restaurants will have hand sanitizer available, but Barr says it’s a good idea to always bring your own and to make sure to use it.

And when thinking about what to bring when eating out, consider shared items that restaurants no longer have to off er.

For example, Colleen Riske, co-owner of Los Sombreros Mexican restau-

rant, says it’s a good idea for parents to bring crayons and coloring books if dining out with their children as most restaurants won’t provide these currently.

“Diners bringing children should come prepared with items from home if they want their children occupied with something besides food and drink at the table,” Riske said.

4. Go digital Guidelines from the governor’s offi ce suggest restaurants provide a new menu for each customer, but for many, the practice of constantly printing new menus can be expensive and wasteful.

Most restaurants, however, have their menus listed on their websites.

Riske encourages her customers to check out the menu online on their phones, as does Pedal Haus Brewery owner Julian Wright.

Customers at Los Sombreros and Pedal Haus can also pay for their meals through contact-less payment options using apps downloaded on their phones.

If contact-less payment is not an option, guidance from the governor’s offi ce recommends customers use hand sanitizer directly after handling money or exchanging cards.

6. Respect the restaurant’s changes Many restaurant owners have installed creative solutions to help keep customers safe. These range from Plexiglas barriers between booths, touchless payment systems, fl oor markings to indicate where customers should stand, online menus and other changes that may make dining out a slightly diff erent experience than prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

Thomas Barr, executive director of Local First Arizona, a nonprofi t organization that promotes small businesses throughout the state, urges customers to comply with changes restaurants have made.

“Respect the adaptations the local business may have to make in order to serve you,” Barr recommends, “and be patient with them.”

The changes might be diff erent than what customers expect, but they have been put in place to ensure everyone’s safety. Barr says it’s a good idea to call ahead and ask the restaurant about their new standards. And realize they are new for the staff as well.

Hence another recommendation from Barr: “Thank the hard-working staff before leaving.”

Reach the reporter at tirion .morris@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @tirionmorris, on Facebook at Tirion Rose and on Instagram at tirionrose.

Chefs face struggles to get diners to return Eateries juggle safety with being welcoming Trevor Hughes USA TODAY

Former “Top Chef ” contestant Carrie Baird’s new restaurant was open for just seven days when the coronavirus outbreak prompted health offi cials to order an immediate halt to in-person dining across Colorado.

She was still fi nessing the menu at Rose’s Classic Americana, including her signature Fancy Toast, when she was forced to close. Now, she’s trying to fi gure out how to reopen as health rules relax and diners begin returning to restaurants across the country.

For many Americans tired of baking sourdough and eating their own cooking, those restaurants reopening in the coming weeks will look diff erent than before.

“We always say that food’s the easy part,” says Baird, 40, who was also a 2019 fi nalist for a James Beard “Best Chef ” award. “I’m confi dent I can deliver you a meal you can’t recreate at home.

But all the other parts? That’s a lot harder. The days of ‘Cheers’ and sitting down at a bar and rubbing elbows with a stranger and shooting the s--- are going to be over.”

A study by reservation service OpenTable indicated that as many as 25% of restaurants nationally may never reopen, the victim of razor-thin margins even under the best of times.

The National Restaurant Association says its members lost $30 billion in March and $50 billion in April, staggering losses for an industry that employed about 12 million people before the outbreak. Many of the country’s restaurant employees were the fi rst to lose their jobs and some restaurateurs are struggling to entice back workers who’ve found the $600 weekly federal unemployment payments – on top of their state’s unemployment payment – more lucrative, never mind safer.

Experts say most restaurants will need to fi nd a happy medium between taking safety precautions and creating a welcoming environment. After all, most people who eat out are seeking a social experience.

“It will be diff erent. It will feel diff erent. It will look diff erent,” said Larry

Caroline Glover, the chef-owner of Annette Scratch to Table restaurant in Aurora, Colorado, prepares dough for baking during the coronavirus outbreak. TREVOR HUGHES/USA TODAY

Lynch, a longtime food-safety expert and a senior vice president of the National Restaurant Association. “It’s already proven that restaurants can eff ectively and safely prepare food. In terms of the actual preparation of food, we know that works. It’s the front of the house where the changes become more obvious.”

The federal government has issued guidelines for restaurants and bars that call for them to follow state and local rules, encourage social distancing while dining, and recommends checking workers for illness when feasible.

The Restaurant Association has now released its own guidelines and a training video explaining what it considers to be best practices, including cleaning regimens, distancing suggestions and mask protocols. And states are developing their own rules: Florida, for instance, has already permitted restaurants to reopen as long as they limit occupancy to 25% of their usual capacity. And in Wyoming, restaurants must limit groups to no more than six, and tables must be at least six feet apart.

Almost every state allowing restaurants to reopen is also requiring frequent cleaning and sanitation, although Wis-

consin reopened with no restrictions in place after the state Supreme Court overruled the governor’s quarantine orders.

Lynch and other experts described how a typical sit-down dining experience might unfold for most diners across the country: You’ll make a reservation in advance, and potentially even place your order then. Once you arrive at the restaurant, you’ll wait in your vehicle or outside until a text tells you it’s time to come in, and you’ll be immediately seated at a table with hand sanitizer, distanced from other diners.

Your server, who might bring your utensils only after you’ve been seated, may only return to clear the table once, and perhaps another time to ensure you’ve got water to drink. There won’t be any self-service buff ets or soda machines. Once you’ve paid – preferably with a credit card or phone – you might leave the restaurant by a diff erent door than the one you entered.

And pretty much every person you see will be wearing a mask.

Everything, Lynch said, will be designed to reduce interactions between and among guests and staff .

“We’ll lose some of that face-to-face

contact but we’ll make sure you’re feeling safe,” he said. “Every conversation I’ve had since we started working on this is ‘how do I reassure the customers.’ ” Some restaurants see safety concerns as a way to diff erentiate themselves. The company that owns Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes, for instance, wants the public to know that every worker has their temperature taken when arriving. Experts say full-service restaurants will likely struggle at fi rst because they require patrons to step into a space that’s been off -limits for months: a dining room.

In Denver, chef Caroline Glover is struggling with the same choices: When should she reopen her award-winning restaurant Annette for in-person dining? During the shutdowns, she and her staff switched to serving takeout meals of fried chicken, burgers and pork chops at about half their normal volume. A Small Business Administration loan has helped keep her afl oat, but she worries that reopening too soon could expose a customer or employee to infection.

“Everybody’s scared, and for good reason,” she said. “People might feel they are literally risking their lives to eat out.”

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What the future may hold for theme parks Curtis Tate USA TODAY

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The Universal Orlando and Legoland resorts are preparing to reopen in Florida after closing for more than two months in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic.

But the question remains: When will Disney and other major theme parks follow suit?

Universal and Legoland have asked state and local offi cials in Florida to reopen June 1.

That leaves a number of other theme parks in Florida and across the country that will need to prepare – and potentially follow their lead on reopening plans full of restrictions and safety precautions.

Disney World and SeaWorld, both also closed since mid-March, have not set target reopening dates or unveiled their plans.

Smaller theme parks elsewhere in the country could open sooner. And California theme parks, including Disneyland, may be among the last to come back, with that state’s stricter criteria for mass gatherings.

Last month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom outlined a phased reopening plan that appears to put theme parks in a higher-risk category of business that would open later.

Though Disney has off ered no specifics about its reopening plans, its chief medical offi cer, Pamela Hymel, said this month that the company is looking at reopening in phases.

Hymel said physical distancing and capacity limits will be considered, in addition to cleanliness and sanitation, screening and prevention, and employee training.

Just about any theme park visit will prove to be a diff erent experience for those who visit.

They’ll probably get a temperature check.

They’ll be encouraged, if not required, to wear a face mask.

They’ll see fewer people in the park and have to social distance from them.

Some attractions may remain closed, and parking, dining, hotels and retail will all change in some way.

The reopening of attractions such as theme parks will prompt the resumption of nonessential travel, which has plummeted since much of the U.S. economy went into sleep mode in March.

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly told CNBC last month that theme parks would play a role in getting travelers back on commercial fl ights.

Travelers “need to have something to be able to do when they get there,” Kelly said.

“So Disney World needs to open back up. Restaurants need to open back up.”

A reopened Universal will look very diff erent for visitors and employees, according to a presentation made to the local economic recovery task force by company offi cials.

Upon arrival, valet parking will not be available, and cars will park one or two spaces apart.

Visitors will receive a temperature check, and no one with a temperature above 100.4 degrees will be allowed to enter.

Employees will also receive temperature checks.

Visitors and employees will be required to wear face coverings. Universal will provide disposable face masks for visitors who don’t bring their own.

The park’s capacity will be limited, said John Sprouls, chief administrative offi cer for Universal Studios, though he did not specify by how much.

“We’re going to ramp up very slowly,” he told the economic recovery task force.

Sprouls said the interactive play areas at the park would remain closed, and the park would eliminate water and mist elements.

On rides, parties will be kept together, with no commingling, and attraction queues will be spaced out for social distancing.

Single-use paper menus will replace reusable ones in the park’s restaurants.

Mobile food ordering will be set up for all venues, Sprouls said.

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After Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced that pools could open, Hotel Valley Ho general manager Ronen Aviram said the phones started ringing at his resort.

Even though the Hotel Valley Ho stayed open during the state’s stay-athome orders, like every other hotel, it saw a drop in business. But recently that’s changed.

As the state has opened back up, Aviram has noticed people are desperate to get out of the house and have started making reservations again.

Despite the renewed demand, Aviram said the resort is easing back into this next stage of business by reducing the number of guests it allows to stay at the hotel.

The hotel has instituted new safety protocols for the benefi t of both employees and guests. When employees come to work, they have their temperature taken and are questioned about their health. They’re provided personal protective equipment (PPE) before starting their shift.

Along with reduced capacity at the pool, spa and fi tness facility, they’ve also reduced the capacity of the restaurant and started encouraging reservations to help limit crowding as people wait for tables.

“Everything has changed,” he said.

The CDC is still discourages nonessential travel. “Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19,” the federal agency writes on its website.

Yet, after several weeks of stay-athome orders, those in the tourism industry say they feel there’s a pent-up demand of people who want to have a change of scenery after more than two months in their homes.

There are small indications people are acting on that wanderlust.

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, which usually serves more leisure than business travelers, has seen a slight uptick in passengers recently. The Transportation Security Administration has reported screening more passengers at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, though the airport does not have specifi c numbers available yet.

Both airports say that small increase is far from what would be normal this time of year. And it’s unlikely air travel will return to normal this summer.

The Arizona Offi ce of Tourism predicts that due to ongoing concerns over the coronavirus, more people will choose staycations and driving vacations that are within four or fi ve hours from home.

“Travel this year will look diff erent,” said Debbie Johnson, executive director of the Arizona Offi ce of Tourism.

Expecting that more people will want to stay closer to home this year, the offi ce has mostly abandoned its traditional marketing plan that focuses on national and international visitors. It will launch a new campaign after Memorial Day weekend asking local travelers to “Rediscover Arizona.” That campaign will target Arizonans as well as Southern California, Utah and New Mexico.

Johnson said she’s heard from people with a range of expectations for travel to Arizona, from those who want to hop on a plane immediately to those searching for destinations closer to home that give them ample space to dis-

Brent Graef, right, director of operations and Thomas Logan, center left, front office manager, both with the Hotel Valley Ho, put down a social distancing markers on the floor in the lobby at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale on May 22.

DAVID WALLACE/THE REPUBLIC

tance from others.

“I do feel like people will get back in their cars and go to those bucket list locations,” said Matt Gaghen, CEO for Under Canvas, a chain of seven upscale “glamping” resorts located near national parks.

Gaghen said his open-air camping company is well positioned for travel in the pandemic era as Under Canvas’ campsites already off er spacial distancing. Resort locations range in size from 50 to 100 acres already off ered large campsites with “private safari-inspired canvas lodging tents.”

He said recently they’ve received more booking inquiries. Because the Grand Canyon has opened, the company expects to see more visitors from the Phoenix area when it opens that location June 11.

“A lot of people were waiting to see what would happen with accessibility to the parks and now pretty much across the board the parks are in diff erent stages of opening access, which is great,” Gaghen said.

With so many travelers sticking closer to home, will you still land a great staycation deal this year?

Aviram said he believes those summer deals will still be around.

Last year, Hotel Valley Ho was 87% full during the summer months but he said a signifi cant amount of those travelers were there for business or conferences. With large events on hold and business travelers staying home, he expects that resorts will still have room to off er deals especially Sundays through Thursdays. But if you’re hoping to get a day pass to a resort pool this year, you might fi nd that challenging.

The new CDC guidelines for pools and water parks call for spacing so that pool visitors can stay at least 6 feet apart from people they don’t live with.

That advisory also calls for “limiting nonessential visitors.”

In order to visit the pool or fi tness center at Valley Ho this year, Aviram said you will need to be a hotel guest. He said that change will help the hotel monitor who is on property and the volume of people in any one area.

“We just got to fi nd that balance, from our industry, of wanting to fi ll our hotels, our bars, our restaurants, pools and then how do we keep everyone safe with the social distancing guidelines,” he said.

You can connect with Arizona Republic Consumer Travel Reporter Melissa Yeager through email at melissa. yeager@azcentral.com. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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5 things to keep in mind if you’re booking a 2020 staycation in Arizona Melissa Yeager

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

1. Make sure to stay up to date with the latest travel advisories from the Arizona Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Know that the COVID-19 situation is fl uid and each state may have diff erent advice. Make sure you evaluate that information before deciding to travel.

2. Make reservations early for spots near the National Parks. Those are likely to attract visitors looking for spatial distance from others.

3. If you're looking for a resort deal, experts say that Sundays through Thursdays are your best bet. Before you

book, make sure you're comfortable with the resort's COVID-19 safety policies.

4. Due to CDC recommendations, you might fi nd it hard to get a day pass to a pool this year as resorts limit their pools to hotel guests for health and safety reasons.

5. Make sure your reservation is refundable. Though stay-at-home orders have lifted, the pandemic is not over.

Make sure you have the fl exibility to change your reservation during this fl uid situation.

You can connect with Arizona Republic Consumer Travel Reporter Melissa Yeager through email at melissa.yeager@azcentral.com. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

AZCENTRAL.COM ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ 31AA

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32AA ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

REBUILDING AMERICA MOVIES

Awaiting end of a long intermission Brian Truitt USA TODAY

Wonder Woman is hanging out on Doritos bags, mocking movie fans. Right next to the image of Gal Gadot is the reminder that her much-anticipated superhero sequel, “Wonder Woman 1984,” is in theaters June 5. Or at least it would be if the coronavirus hadn’t happened, closing theaters across the nation and pushing the fi lm’s release back to August. But with every day bringing new COVID-19 cases and deaths, moviegoers have to wonder if they’ll be waiting even longer.

“It’s funny to see all these blockbusters that usually overtake our Targets and Walmarts, and all the products that we know and love, still plastered with the old dates,” says Jeff Bock, senior box-offi ce analyst for Exhibitor Relations.

“They’re just lying to us now.”

Is the summer movie season being canceled?

Pretty much, though three high-profi le fi lms still stand on the calendar: Christopher Nolan’s thriller “Tenet” (July 17), Disney’s live-action “Mulan” (July 24) and “Wonder Woman 1984” (Aug. 14).

“It’s nice, honestly, that they have them out there because everybody who loves movies, especially blockbuster movies in the summertime, can still look to that and have a glimmer of hope,” Bock says.

The hard reality, however, is even if enough theaters open in the next few months, there’s no guarantee that crowds will show up or that concessions will be operating at full tilt, “and that’s the only way that theaters are actually going to get paid,” Bock says.

Not to mention the as-yet-undetermined guidelines to keep people safe.

Will multiplexes ever fully reopen?

“There’s no question in my mind” that theaters will be back in business one day, says Paul Dergarabedian, senior media

analyst for Comscore. “It just may look a little diff erent.” Capacity could be limited by social distancing, or the same movie might show on multiple screens.

Dergarabedian also envisions theaters using more loyalty programs and discounted tickets to bring audiences back. “Every business is going to be in the same boat trying to do that.”

Some change is inevitable, given that ticket sales per capita have been declining for years – long before the pandemic, Bock says.

“In terms of where we’re headed and how long it’s going to take to get back to not just restart but rebuild the theatrical engine, it could be years before everybody’s on the same page (and) people feel comfortable.”

When will fi lm audiences return?

Uproxx senior entertainment writer Mike Ryan predicts people will listen to their governors about when everything is fi ne, “whether it’s accurate or not.”

Still, he says, “until there’s a vaccine, or we get super-lucky and it’s a seasonal virus and just one day loses its potency, I am going to propose that it is not safe. I can remember dozens of times I’ve been sitting in a theater and someone with a wet cough was sitting in my vicinity, then a couple of days later I, too, have that same cough. Call me crazy but risking your life to see ‘Gemini Man’ in a theater doesn’t seem like the wisest choice.”

While Bock believes most moviegoers will take a wait-and-see approach rather than rushing back, Dergarabedian says “people are hungry” to return to the movies.

He points to a resurgence in drive-in theaters as fi lm fans “fi nding a way around this problem to get to the communal big-screen experience.”

Plus, with an overly packed lineup next year, “2021 could be a huge comeback year for the industry – with the caveat that people feel safe and secure.”

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34AA ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

REBUILDING AMERICA ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT

What future of shows will probably look like at Celebrity Theatre Ed Masley

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

For Rich Hazelwood, the Celebrity Theatre is more than an important part of Phoenix music history.

Since the music venue opened as the Star Theatre in 1964 with “South Pacifi c,” the 2,650-capacity theater in the round has hosted such iconic artists as Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Van Halen and Janelle Monae. In 2019, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

“The theater is very special to me,” Hazelwood said. “I watched it being built on my paper route and thought, ‘One day I’m going to own that.’ ” That dream came true in 2002 when he bought the Celebrity, perhaps best known for its rotating stage.

“My hope is to keep that up and preserve the legend of the Celebrity for many years to come,” he said. But he’s not in a rush to reopen after shuttering due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The concert venue has been closed for months because of health concerns related to the spread of COVID-19.

Hazelwood wants to reopen and fi nancially support his staff . But it’s more complicated than that.

“We have to balance that with the overall safety of that same staff , our patrons, performing artists and the community,” he said.

Danny Zelisko, a Valley concert promoter who recently celebrated 45 years in the business, has booked shows at the

Celebrity for decades.

He’d love to see that stage back up and rotating as soon as possible.

“If I don’t sell tickets, I don’t make money,” Zelisko said. “I can’t pay my employees. I can’t pay bills. But this coronavirus isn’t over.”

Celebrity Theatre’s manager Julie Dougherty was paying close attention to the new coronavirus situation when, she said, “things started escalating very quickly.”

The South By Southwest Music Festival in Texas was canceled March 6. A week later, Pancho Barrazza played the fi nal show before the Celebrity closed its doors for social distancing.

“The following week, we furloughed the staff and decided we’re just gonna have to put everything on hold for now and wait and see what happens,” Dougherty said.

Now, the Celebrity has nothing on the books for the next few months. Shows previously booked though early September were rescheduled or postponed with one exception. The Hollies’ U.S. tour was canceled.

Management is focused on rescheduling the shows already on the books.

They can’t book new tours until the industry at large reopens.

“So what if Phoenix opens and Texas opens and Kansas opens?,” Dougherty said. “If the rest of the country hasn’t yet, that doesn’t make an economically feasible way to tour.”

Another issue is that the venue often features legacy acts who tend to draw

older crowds. Many Celebrity customers called expressing worry in the days leading up to the fi rst show the venue rescheduled — Gladys Knight.

“That crowd was very, very concerned,” Dougherty said. “They’re telling us ‘We’re older,’ ‘We’re not supposed to go out’ or ‘We’re immunocompromised.’ ” Then there are the artists themselves.

“Are any of them gonna decide, you know what, I’ve done my last tour?”

Besides postponing and rescheduling concerts, Hazelwood said they’re working to determine what it would look like to reopen safely.

They’ve looked at rescaling the theater and determining what the capacity would look like for socially distanced concerts. The 6-foot rule would drastically reduce capacity to what Dougherty fi gures is 20%.

“We could do it where you put a couple people on the end of each aisle with empty seats in between them, and a couple empty rows between each of the seated rows,” she said. “The concern then would be getting people into the building and out of the building with that social distancing.”

Then there’s the challenge of getting concertgoers to cooperate.

“There’s a lot of people that absolutely take this seriously,” Dougherty said. “But all it takes is a couple people who don’t take it seriously and they want to sit where they want to sit. Then, you’ve gotta have the staff to handle that.”

With regard to face masks, Dougherty said staff would be required to wear

them and any other necessary personal protective equipment, like gloves, depending on the person’s job.

She’s not sure they could require masks on guests. “But we would certainly recommend it to all patrons as we navigate opening up again.”

For now, the plan is to reopen with Morris Day & the Time on Sept. 4.

“I guess the only thing that would stop that,” Dougherty said, “is if the state doesn’t open up to large events by that time. Or we would have to really kind of rework how we would manage the event if they say it’s open but you’ve got to maintain the social distancing.”

If they’ll need to maintain social distance at a show that has already sold out, they’re not yet sure how that will work.

“We’re looking at whether we could have two performances on one date or two performances on back-to-back dates and re-allocate tickets based on safe, socially distanced seating,” Dougherty said.

One thing the Celebrity has going for itself in that respect is that Hazelwood owns the building and the property outright. But there are two main concerns going forward.

First and foremost, is reopening safe?

And how will the recession caused by shutting down the country impact ticket sales? Dougherty believes people will work out a way to see the shows they want to see, the same way people budgeted for concerts before the pandemic.

Reach the reporter at ed.masley@ arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495.

Follow him on Twitter @EdMasley.

Here’s how concerts may look and feel a little diff erent when they return Ed Masley

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

As the U.S. attempts to navigate reopening the economy in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, few industries will have a harder time adjusting to the new realities of social distancing than the concert industry.

And that’s after having to wait much longer than most industries to start the process of reopening.

As Stephen Chilton, a Phoenix con-

cert promoter and venue owner who sits on the board of the newly formed National Independent Venue Association, puts it, “Music venues were the fi rst to close and now we’re gonna to be the last ones to open.” And when they do reopen, what exactly will that look like?

Here’s what you might see. ❚ The Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix has looked at rescaling the venue with social distancing parameters in place and a seating arrangement that would drastically reduce the theater’s capacity. Venue manager Julie Dougherty

says, “We could do it where you put a couple people on the end of each aisle with empty seats in between them, and a couple empty rows between each of the seated rows. ❚ People may need to be ushered to their seats in small groups to keep the aisles clear. ❚ The Celebrity will require employees to wear face masks and, when applicable, gloves. ❚ Drive-in concerts could be the next big thing. Digital Drive-In in Mesa is hosting a series of them on Sundays. A

recent Spaff ord concert there sold out in a minute. ❚ Live Nation expects to implement additional safety protocols at its concerts. Those could range from reduced capacity to touchless concessions. ❚ Live Nation also plans to roll out “fanless” concerts to be broadcast into viewers’ homes.

Reach the reporter at ed.masley@ arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495.

Follow him on Twitter @EdMasley.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

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AZCENTRAL.COM ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ 35AA

REBUILDING AMERICA HEALTH AND FITNESS

As gyms reopen in metro Phoenix, here’s what to expect KiMi Robinson

AUTO GROUP

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

In Arizona, gyms were given the goahead to reopen on May 13. But many fi tness centers had detailed contingency plans in place before they knew when they’d be allowed to reopen, preparing to help Arizonans exercise while COVID-19 cases continued to rise in the state.

Welcoming back gym-goers during the new coronavirus pandemic means changing how gyms operate in an attempt to prevent the spread of the disease.

Besides implementing Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s guidelines for how fi tness centers can operate more safely, some gyms in metro Phoenix have extra precautions planned. Some of these eff orts to lessen contact between members include requiring members to book workout sessions in specifi c time slots, staggering fi tness classes and investing in disinfectant foggers.

As fi tness centers across the Valley attempt to recover from almost two months of closure, owners are making the call on what’s safe for their members. While some are reopening in full with new operating guidelines, others are cautiously making some amenities available while taking a wait-and-see approach.

Tangible Fitness, a boutique gym that hosts classes and off ers LED light therapy and body scanning, stayed open until Arizona’s stay-at-home order went into eff ect on April 1. During that time, it experienced an infl ux of signups from people who could no longer go to their big-box gyms after March 20.

Despite that growth, Tangible saw membership cut nearly in half after closing its doors, Michael Stantz, the general manager, told The Arizona Republic.

After the gym closed, the owners pivoted to selling supplements and meal preparation kits out of the gym’s lobby.

Altogether, he said, Tangible Tanning and Fitness lost $92,000 in revenue during its closure.

“I miss seeing everybody I’ve been seeing over the last 12 years,” Stantz said. “There’s a unique sense of community here.”

Now, Tangible Fitness members aren’t able to simply walk in and begin workouts like before the pandemic.

During its closure, the gym’s owners expanded their app to allow members to sign up for 90-minute time slots once a day to use the gym’s cardio equipment and weights.

Between those sessions, 15 minutes are dedicated to cleaning and disinfecting equipment for the next time slot. Capacity has been lowered to 30 people working out in the 15,000-square-foot space at a time, and hospital-grade disinfecting spray and sanitizing wipes are available throughout the workout area.

The owners also invested in a Clorox Total 360, an electrostatic sprayer that is eff ective against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. To help cover these new maintenance costs, membership fees have been raised, Stantz said.

“Now we need to look at rebuilding smarter and healthier,” Statz said.

Life Time Fitness reopened its fi ve Arizona centers mid-May, after being closed for two months.

Its 150 “athletic resort destinations” in North America are reopening depending on how safe members feel about returning, Amy Williams, Life Time’s public relations manager, told The Republic on May 12.

Every Arizona location was back in business by May 20.

“It became clear that a majority (of

Matthew Garcia, owner of Arizona Bio-Fogging Disinfection Services, uses a propane powered bio-fogger to disinfect the Jabz Boxing studio at 3136 E. Indian School Road in Phoenix, as the boxing fi tness center for women prepares to reopen following their closure in mid March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, on May 14.

DAVID WALLACE/THE REPUBLIC

Phoenix-based members) were wanting our clubs to open so that they could get back to their health and fi tness routines,” Williams wrote in an email.

Life Time has a “carefully planned and phased approach” in place, according to its website.

Some announced changes include adjusted hours to accommodate overnight “deep cleaning,” spaced out equipment, new capacity limits and breaks between classes for instructors to sanitize equipment. While basketball and tennis courts are part of the initial reopening, pool availability is based on local guidelines.

Similarly, Valley of the Sun YMCA locations have reopened at limited capacity and will make other facilities available in phases.

“Our communal and high-traffi c spaces like group fi tness, Amazing Kids Center, open gym and pools will reopen when we determine that it is safe to do so,” Shelby Tuttle, director of communications for Valley of the Sun YMCA, told The Republic on May 13.

As yoga, Pilates and spin classes resume, there are eff orts to reduce contact at many studios and fi tness centers.

Sweatshop on Central in Phoenix is asking yogis to bring their own mats and towels. Inside the studio’s classroom, spaces will be marked for mats, and some stationary bikes will be blocked off to allow for distancing. To encourage social distancing, class times are staggered to prevent crowding of the common areas afterward.

Class reservations are now mandatory at both Sweatshop and Life Time.

Instructors are discouraged from giving hands-on adjustments. At Life Time, trainers are asked to stay 6 feet away from clients. While monitoring staff for symptoms is part of the governor’s guidelines for reopened businesses, some gyms are also considering keeping an eye on members’ health.

“Currently we plan to only temperature check staff but have ordered a touchless thermometer and will evaluate how to feasibly temperature check students as well,” Ashley Zettler, owner of Sweatshop on Central, told The Republic. Orange Theory Fitness, which has 31 locations in and around Phoenix, will go a step further. Upon reopening on May 26, each location will scan every person’s temperature before entering the facility and have them use hand sanitizer Reach the reporter at kimi.robinson@gannett.com or at 602444-4968. Follow her on Twitter @kimirobin.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

5 ways gyms will be diff erent due to COVID-19 KiMi Robinson

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

1. To encourage space of 6 feet or more between customers, fewer machines might be available at your gym. Many gyms are turning off some machines to help facilitate social distancing.

2. There should be more sanitizing stations with disinfectant sprays and paper towels available throughout your fi tness club. It's encouraged that you wipe down equipment before and after use and use hand sanitizer frequently.

3. You might be asked to bring your own mats and towels. Some amenities,

like towel service, might not be available at some gyms for a while.

4. Most gyms will cap the number of participants in fi tness classes to allow for social distancing within classrooms.

Some clubs might implement this by requiring you to sign up for a class online ahead of time.

5. Some fi tness centers might revise their hours temporarily to allow time for more thorough cleaning at the end of the day. Make sure to check with your local club to confi rm when it's open.

Reach the reporter at kimi.robinson@gannett.com or at 602444-4968. Follow her on Twitter @kimirobin.

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36AA ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

Sports Continued from Page 21AA

right now is our plans to return. With safety being our No. 1 priority, we will need support from our four groups — parent, player, school and our coaches.

We will be discussing the safest practices that we can implement to make ensure safety for all. In the coming weeks and months, I think you’ll see districts start to develop these plans and communicate them out to their communities to show them that we are taking this seriously and these ‘Return to Play’ responsibilities will be implemented and followed by all. And ultimately, if your not comfortable returning your child to play, that is perfectly fi ne.”

Phoenix Horizon girls volleyball coach Valorie McKenzie said that coaches are beginning to discuss a plan to bring sports back to schools. The Paradise Valley Unifi ed School District has asked the coaches to brainstorm ideas to reinstate programs possibly beginning in July in some aspect of the sport, such as conditioning and preseason clinics, McKenzie said.

She said she has researched the USA Volleyball recommendations for returning to the sport.

Return to play guidelines for coaches and directors include being symptom free for at least 14 days prior to any activity, staying home if sick or not feeling well, being aware of and disclose any potential contacts with aff ected individuals, wash and sanitize your hands often, do not touch your faces or eyes with unclean hands, practice social distancing regularly and wearing a face mask.

“I do understand the desire at all levels to get athletics back into the mix once school begins,” McKenzie said. “That’s the fi rst question that must be answered.

If school is not reinstated, how can athletics be reinstated?”

Not everybody has ruled out games and tournaments this summer, as new data comes in daily on positive tests and deaths due to COVID-19.

From Pop Warner to Little League to soccer and volleyball, the path back to full activities goes day to day. Some have canceled summer plans. Some are in wait-and-see mode.

“We’re taking a conservative approach to this,” said John Casale, who founded the Swarm Baseball Foundation in Scottsdale with players from age 8 to high school. “This is a long process. We want to get back into it but not until it’s a safe environment. We’ll get back on the fi eld in a safe manner.

“Everyone is up in the air where youth sports stands, especially baseball. Nobody has clear marching orders on how to get back into it. We’ve got to feel comfortable with what the government and local authorities are saying to be safe. We have to reach out to the families and see what their interest level of playing. We’re dying to get out there to play some baseball but not until everyone feels a level of safety. We’re hoping as time progresses and we get more metrics and data, we’ll feel better by fall.”

David Hines, executive director of the Arizona Interscholastic Association, can’t say now he sees a light at the end of this pandemic tunnel to restart high school sports in the 2020-21 school year.

But he like how safety phased steps that schools could be taking by districts to be ready for a relaunch.

“We’ll go through our Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and by next week a packet on recommendations to schools, we’ll roll out,” Hines said. “We saw a draft of that by the board. We have some touching up on that.”

Will high school football games begin in August?

“I’m hoping,” Hines said. “This has been really frustrating for kids not being able to play. The safety of the communities are very important. I certainly would love to have the opportunity for the kids to get back to competing and being able to watch them play. We have to wait and see how things go in the next month.”

Serena Wallace, girls volleyball coach at Flagstaff Coconino, worries about the mental state of players as days roll into weeks and months without being in the gym with others working to get ready for the season.

“Sports are a place that athletes can decompress from the outside pressures of life,” she said. “I always tell the athletes that once they walk through the doors of the gym, nothing else matters.

Those two to three hours are for them to let their minds relax and focus completely on the game they love.

“Young adults have so many pressures on them with social media these days, that they benefi t greatly from the break during competition. Looking back on my own experience, in addition to loving parents and a gracious God, those hours in the gym were crucial to who I am and the drive that I know I can fi nd in myself when needed. I hope with all my heart that we can safely return to youth sports. I cannot wait to get back in the gym where we can gather together, as is human nature, and compete again. I look forward to those times and am using this time off to prepare for that wonderful day.”

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AZCENTRAL.COM ❚ SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 ❚ 37AA

REBUILDING AMERICA RESTAURANTS

A 19-page plan, a 93-year-old Wurlitzer How Organ Stop Pizza prepared to reopen

room, I don’t know how many times, and had to revamp it and change it and revamp it again,” Barz said.

Employees will have their temperature checked before coming into the building and will wear masks and gloves for their shifts. But even with changes to their usual routine, Barz said they were excited to get back to work.

Katherine Fitzgerald Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

Perhaps there’s a small, strange comfort in knowing the organ has been through something like this before.

At Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa, the crown jewel of the restaurant sits on a stage: the Wurlitzer theater organ. It was built for for the Denver Theatre in 1927. It has nearly 6,000 pipes. It was silent for most of the Great Depression.

And with the fallout of coronavirus, for a few weeks, it was silent again.

“About two weeks ago, one of the organists came into practice and just hearing it for the fi rst time again actually took me to tears a little bit because I just haven’t heard it in so long,” Organ Stop Pizza co-owner Jack Barz said on May 4.

‘It’s good to see the organist playing again’

Co-owner Jack Barz poses for a portrait on May 6 at Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa.

“Our restaurant is so much more than just food,” he says. SEAN LOGAN/THE REPUBLIC

What is Organ Stop Pizza?

A detailed plan for reopening

Organ Stop Pizza has been a Valley staple since 1972. Its original location was in Phoenix, before opening up a Mesa location in 1975. Both restaurants operated through the 1980s, and the current halls opened in 1995 to accommodate larger crowds in Mesa.

As the organ music plays, customers can order specialty pies, like the Hawaiian or the Spicy Italian, or they can build their own eight-inch, 12-inch or 14-inch pizzas. The menu also includes pastas, sandwiches and gluten-free options.

When the coronavirus pandemic started, Organ Stop Pizza closed its doors. Barz didn’t think delivery or takeout options were worth it, as so much of the experience is about being in the restaurant.

Then, the Mesa institution reopened on May 14, with a 19-page book of safety guidelines on top of state advisories around how to operate during the coronavirus pandemic.

The restaurant’s doors swung open at 5 p.m., with the music following at 5:30.

Restaurants in Arizona were able to reopen dine-in services on May 11, but Barz wanted a few extra days to prepare.

The restaurant’s capacity, typically 700 guests, was reduced to about 200 patrons. Customers will now check in outside and receive hand sanitizer when entering. One person from each group will order at the counter, which will have clear, acrylic shields. It is a different look and feel for the restaurant, but Barz thinks the music can provide some relief.

He called it a bit of “escapism,” and viewers around the world got a little taste during a Facebook Live on May 1, when a pair of organists performed for an hour.

“Our restaurant is so much more than just food,” he said. “There’s lots of comments on the Facebook like that: ‘Oh my God, thank you so much for playing this.

That was my father’s favorite song. And you guys played that for him that week before he passed away.’ You know, just stuff like that, it touches people’s hearts so much that it’s one of those things, it’s

like we have to do it.”

The plan to reopen was thorough and accounted for more than just space between tables, the owner said.

Ice cream is served in dishes, no cones. Prepared salads replace the salad bar. Restrooms will be sanitized every 15 minutes, with employees picking up shifts specifi cally to complete the task.

The 19-page plan also provided explanations on why the plans are in place.

And they’ll adapt, too. There won’t be request cards for song choices; instead a staff member will check if there are any special occasions and relay that up to the organist.

The process to fl esh out all these adjustments was long, but with the coowners Barz, Brad Bishop and Pat Rowan also being friends, it wasn’t strenuous. Brainstorming sessions would lead to a fl urry of ideas, with safety always being the priority. Barz would sometimes be driving somewhere, come up with an idea, and immediately use voice to text to share it.

The new seating arrangements were the biggest challenge.

“We drew out this map of the dining

Ahead of reopening, Barz was in frequent communication with his staff .

There were logistics to go over, but also, he missed them.

They did stop by from time to time for paychecks: He made sure to keep paying his staff during those two months, even with the restaurant closed. There was no discussion, as it was “an absolute no brainer,” he said.

He’s glad that Organ Stop Pizza was in a fi nancial position to allow this, but recognizes this will still be a hard year.

“We are in the mindset now, that this year is probably going to be a wash,” he said. “We’re probably not going to make a dime this year. And so we just want to be open. And if we don’t make any money, as long as we pay our employees and get our salaries, and don’t lose money overall for the year, we’ll be okay with that.”

They also gave where they could. In March, Organ Stop Pizza donated items in bulk to United Food Bank after deciding to temporarily close. They had lots of cheese, fresh produce and an urge to make sure it went to feeding people.

Now, they’ll feed people in their own restaurant, as they have for more than 50 years, all with a side of music from the 93-year-old organ.

“It’s fun to hear that, and it’s good to see the organist playing again and getting some sense of normalcy and beyond once again, whatever our new normal is going to be,” Barz said. “It was nice to have a little bit of that.”

Details: Organ Stop Pizza, 1149 E Southern Ave., Mesa. 480-813-5700. organstoppizza.com.

Reach the reporter at kfi tzgeral@gannett.com or 480-3566407. Follow her on Twitter @kfi tz134.

REBUILDING AMERICA MUSIC

Changes will come once concerts restart Distancing, sanitizing likely for shows in future Gary Dinges USA TODAY

When concerts eventually resume, fallout from the coronavirus pandemic could make for a dramatically diff erent experience.

Seats might be blocked off to allow for social distancing, temperature checks are a possibility, hand sanitizer stations will likely be plentiful and masks could even be required in some venues to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, music veterans say.

While a number of performances that had been set for March and April were pushed to the summer, there’s a serious doubt among some insiders that live music will fully return before 2021. A shortage of tests and the lack of a vaccine simply make things too risky, says Travis Rieder, research scholar at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics.

“Attending a Beyoncé concert? I can’t imagine that happening until we have a vaccine,” Rieder said. “The risk of those events as we would have done them in the past outweighs the benefi t of doing them. We are fl exible creatures. We’re going to have to do things diff erently. We can fi nd ways to do the things we love.”

Venues used by big-name touring acts such as Bon Jovi, Foo Fighters and the Jonas Brothers often seat more than 20,000 people. That makes contact tracing, should an attendee report having coronavirus, virtually impossible, Rieder says.

While elected offi cials have said science should be the primary decider on when life returns to normal, Rieder says it’s not really that easy.

“This is really hard,” he says. “We’re hearing a lot today that this is a science question. We think that’s only partially true. It’s an admirable answer, but it’s really about trading off values.

“We want decision-makers to really think through what are the benefi ts and

German DJ Frans Zimmer performs a drive-in concert May 21. GETTY IMAGES

burdens under each set of policies.”

Getting performers back on stage Right now, music industry professionals from across the nation – bookers, promoters, security personnel, venue executives – are huddling, trying to come up with best practices to get performers back on stage.

Whenever that happens, music lovers should be ready for big changes, says Karly Tuckness, co-founder of Four Leaf Productions, a fi rm started this year by veterans of C3 Presents, the company behind Lollapalooza and the Austin City Limits Music Festival.

Among the precautions she predicts “in the short term” are hand-washing and sanitizer stations, requiring attendees to wear masks and temperature checks at gates.

“Some of these things may become the new normal, some may phase out

over time,” Tuckness says.

The solution will diff er depending on the type of event, according to Scott Davidson, president of Code 4 Event Management and Emergency Services.

At some events, guests may be asked to register to help with contact tracing eff orts. Davidson plans for additional safety training for venue staff and educational signage for patrons.

When it comes to creating 6 feet of space between attendees, things get a little more diffi cult, Tuckness says.

“While our industry is nimble and responsive, physical distancing may be hard to achieve at a large music event,” she says.

Venues could keep open seats or rows to create space between people.

Or reduce capacity “to help spread people out while still achieving the collective experience attendees crave,” she says.

The safety and sanitation lessons

learned as a result of the coronavirus will come in handy when it comes to preparing for what the future may hold, Davidson says.

“Just as we did after (the) terrorist attacks of 9/11, we must continue to apply these lessons learned to enhance our preparedness for the next threat to our industry and community,” he says.

Kevin Lyman, who founded the Vans Warped Tour in 1995, says the current pandemic could lead a number of performers and festivals to go online. One of his events, the 320 Festival had been set to take place in Los Angeles but will be livestreamed instead.

“We were on such a treadmill of touring, and I think some of the online ideas were always an afterthought and not given much attention,” he says. “However, this was such a shock to the whole ecosystem of the business. It is now opening many opportunities to explore this medium.”

Most people will still crave the live experience, Lyman says, but he predicts watching online could be the new norm for as many as 10% of concertgoers.

Small venues face similar issues While making larger venues safe has been a focus for many, owners of smaller live music venues across the country are struggling, too.

In Milwaukee, Linneman’s Riverwest Inn remains closed and owner Jim Linneman isn’t sure when it will reopen. He knows big changes are ahead.

“Bars and live music venues like mine require people to survive,” he says. “Unfortunately, people are the host, or carriers, of this awful virus. So nightclubs must adapt until the vaccine or cure is found.”

Linneman says temperature checks are likely at the door, as well as hand sanitizer stations. At the bar, he plans to install plexiglass to protect bartenders. Some bar stools will be removed to create distance. Waitstaff will wear gloves and masks, and drinkware will likely be disposable plastic instead of glass.

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mier events – the Cardinals season, the NASCAR Cup championship race – it’s possible some limited fan attendance could be allowed. ❚ Ready for some football? The Cardinals’ fi rst scheduled home game in 2020 is a preseason matchup against the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs sometime during the third week of August, with the offi cial season opener set for Sept. 13 at the San Francisco 49ers. That is, if the state of California allows the resumption of pro sports.

Still TBD. The NFL pushed back the start of in-person workouts to at least the end of May, so the scheduling timetable could still be in fl ux. ❚ Play ball! Major League Baseball, which was supposed to open the season in late March, has its eyes on a July 4 Opening Day to start an 82-game season. The Diamondbacks, who at various times over the past two months were linked to all sorts of scenarios ranging from being part of a plan to bring every MLB team to Arizona for the season, to having to share Chase Field with other clubs, are standing by to help get baseball back in whatever format winds up winning the day. Right now, the hope is to open some sort of preseason training in early- to mid-June. Good news for Diamondbacks fans – the projected playoff fi eld would be expanded from 10 to 14 teams. ❚ Campus concerns. Arizona State

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and Arizona have said they plan to open campuses for the fall semester. That suggests that college sports will also return, in some form. Restrictions are beginning to ease in the states that comprise the Pac-12 Conference, but there are still many hurdles.

For example, Los Angeles County will keep stay-at-home orders in place through July, and L.A. Mark Faller is sports editor of the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com.

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Rebuilding America Together!

REBUILDING AMERICA TELEVISION

Cliff hanger: Some shows left in limbo USA TODAY

Restarting the huge and varied television industry after an unprecedented coronavirus-related shutdown doesn’t follow a one-size-fi ts-all formula.

Much has changed on TV since production was halted in mid-March. News programs have continued with guests and sometimes anchors broadcasting from home. Late-night comedy shows and reality singing competitions also have resumed from remote locations.

Ratings for many shows have risen, with so many people staying at home.

When it comes to the backbone of entertainment TV, scripted programming, networks and streaming services have been leaning on ready-to-go fi lmed shows and easier-to-build specials to make up for the lack of new production.

Going forward, that supply will diminish, although TV executives say we won’t run out of new shows anytime soon.

“We’re pretty far ahead, so we don’t see any disruption in our output over the next few months,” Netfl ix chief content offi cer Ted Sarandos told CNN in late March, referring to the streaming service’s large supply of original programming. “You know, maybe later in the year, if this progresses long, you’ll start feeling some of that as the physical production is not operating.”

The shutdown already wiped out pilot season, when episodes of prospective replacement series are fi lmed, and the mid-May advertising upfronts, when the coming season’s primetime schedules and launch dates are announced. Some networks still haven’t announced plans to roll out episodes of new and returning series.

The Emmy Awards’ planned Sept. 20 ceremony hasn’t been delayed yet, but entry, voting and nomination deadlines have been pushed back.

However, the bigger question looms: When can TV restart production without social distancing? Executives can estimate and make plans, but they just

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don’t know when it will be safe to begin fi lming again – or when governments will allow it. Although Los Angeles, where so much production takes place, is slowly re-opening businesses, offi cials have said some stay-at-home restrictions could extend past July.

Tyler Perry has the most ambitious production plan, scheduling “Sistas” to start work July 8 and “The Oval” on July 28, with plans to test and sequester cast and crew at his massive Atlanta studio.

CW hedged against delays by pushing its fall season launch of big shows to January, but network chairman Mark Pedowitz likely speaks for many network and studio chiefs when he says: “Certainty is a hard thing in this world right now.” He’s hopeful that fi lming can start in late summer or early fall, as the network’s plans rely on production resuming by September.

Concern for employees’ fi nancial and physical well-being are part of the planning process, executives say.

Netfl ix in March announced creation of a $100 million fund to help entertainment workers aff ected by the pandemic, while networks and studios are trying to determine the best way to restart productions safely.

“One big thing we’re working on now is to fi gure out, what is the protocol to get things back up and going? How can we do that with a real assurance of safety?” says Kevin Reilly, president of cable networks TBS, TNT and TruTV, and chief content offi cer for upcoming streaming service HBO Max. With production halted, broadcast networks, which have nightly primetime schedules to fi ll, have been holding back shows with fully produced seasons to provide new programming for the next few months. Networks also are acquiring shows that have aired internationally or on streaming services to beef up original programming options. CW picked up “Tell Me a Story” from CBS All Access, a corporate cousin, while Fox will off er “L.A.’s Finest,” a “Bad Boys” spinoff previously available only to Spectrum cable subscribers.

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