Arizona Governor Doug Ducey issued an executive order Monday that defines which businesses and operations are considered essential amid the state’s COVID-19 outbreak. Ducey says he wants to provide certainty to business owners, employees and families, and ensure there’s consistent guidance across the state.
“Arizona is focused on limiting the spread of COVID-19, while providing relief to families, individuals and businesses impacted,” said Ducey in a press release. “This proactive order will ensure the state has one consistent, overarching policy that is based on CDC and public health guidance—allowing business owners and workers to responsibly plan ahead. We will continue to proceed with a calm and steady approach and act with urgency, while providing certainty whenever possible.”
The list of essential operations includes healthcare as well as services for the elderly, along with food production, utilities and emergency personnel. Gas stations, financial institutions, hardware stores and media outlets are also on the list.
It comes as Ducey said during a COVID-19 briefing Monday that it’s not yet necessary to issue a stay-at-home policy to limit the spread of the disease. The governors of California, New York, Illinois, Indiana, and several other states, have issued such stay-at-home orders to combat the spread of COVID-19.
In addition, Ducey issued an executive order Monday designed to speed up tracking of COVID-19 cases and shore up Arizona Department of Health Services’ response to the outbreak. The order requires hospitals and laboratories to report key metrics each day to the state like staff resources, ventilator availability, intensive care unit and inpatient bed availability, personal protective equipment supply levels, and medical supply levels. It also requires laboratories to report the results of all COVID-19 tests, and further track patients, share information and coordinate specimen testing.
