Woman whose dad died from COVID blasts governor for travel

PHOENIX (AP) — A woman whose father died from COVID-19 criticized Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday for leaving the state with his wife to celebrate the couple's wedding anniversary amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Kristin Urquiza, who has previously voiced criticism of President Donald Trump for his handling of the pandemic, posted her biting criticism of Ducey in a video on Twitter from a cemetery. She said she learned from a friend of Ducey's travel while going to the cemetery to tell her father about an academic award she had received.

“I came here to celebrate with my dad but my dad is dead and he’s dead because the person in charge lied and because the governor of this state went along with it. And now he has the luxury to go celebrate his wedding anniversary with his wife. Well good for you. ... people are dying. It is as bad now as it was when my dad got sick in June.”

Her criticism comes as the coronavirus is coming back with a vengeance across the country and the U.S. is facing a long, dark winter. Governors and other elected officials are showing little appetite for imposing the kind of lockdowns and large-scale business closings seen last spring.

Urquiza also said Ducey had abandoned his duties and failed the state “by not taking simple public health precautions to ensure that people have the information that they need to make sound decisions to ensure that people are safe."

Ducey Chief of Staff Daniel Scarpinato said Thursday in a statement that Ducey while away was “plugged in and in constant communication with our office and the White House on the election results, COVID-19 and other state issues," KNXV-TV reported.

Scarpinato did not immediately respond Friday to a request by The Associated Press for comment on the criticism of Ducey, a Republican.

Details of Ducey's travel weren't...