Stay-at-Home order remains in place until May 15th and Arizona’s economy will gradually open
Wednesday afternoon, Governor Doug Ducey sat down for a press conference to provide an update on the current Arizona stay-at-home order.
Gov. Ducey announced that the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected” executive order will be modified and extended until May 15.
Ducey’s first focus was on travel restrictions to coronavirus hotspots. Destination restrictions to locations such as New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will be extended until May 15.
“We have avoided what has happened in so many parts of our globe and our country,” Ducey said.
“Your cooperation is working. I am confident that we can say that we have seen the spread has been slow, and these have been hard fought gains.”
“We will continue, in Arizona, to put public health first,” Gov. Ducey said.
Ducey’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected” order, was set to expire at midnight Thursday. Ducey announced that he is modifying the order to be extended to May 15th with modifications.
Gov. Ducey announced a partial and voluntary reopening of retail businesses will begin, starting on May 4 and expanded on May 8. Recommendations and guidelines will be in place for businesses to follow to protect employees and customers. Gov. Ducey explained the return to normalcy will be gradual and phased in, based on CDC and health expert recommendations through May and June, and will balance public health and returning stronger.
Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ and Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs Director Major General Michael T. McGuire were also in attendance with Ducey at the briefing.
Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ said earlier in the week that she and her department have been prioritizing at-risk populations and the efficiency of the state’s health care system when advising Ducey on coronavirus policy.
“What we want to make sure is that we are protecting our vulnerable citizens and also protecting the health of our health care system,” Christ said Monday.
“That’s really what the ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected’ order was trying to do.”
“We do not want to lose the ground that we have gained,” Gov. Ducey said. “I want to get back to where we were as much as anybody in the state. But I want to do it in a safe and healthy way.”
View the new Executive Order HERE.
