Mayors call on Gov to issue order closing non-essential businesses
March 30 11:00 AM MST
Flagstaff This morning Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) said that schools will not reopen this year. Arizona students will have to switch to online or some kind of alternative small group learning for the rest of the academic year but State Mayors say that’s not enough. Arizona lags behind as states order residents to stay home. Despite hundreds of Covid-19 cases, governor has refused to order shelter-in-place and has barred localities from acting on their own
State health officials said there are now 1,157 known coronavirus cases and 20 deaths. Coconino County reports 68 confirmed cases and 116 pending tests. The restrictions now apply statewide with cases reported in all 15 counties.
In a letter to Ducey and his administration Mayors from nine Arizona cities issued a statement today that declares that Ducey has not done enough to protect the public. They say Ducey needs to reinforce the need for everyone to limit contact with the outside world and that the way to do that is for the Governor to issue an order closing all non essential businesses, shutting down schools is not enough.
The Mayors said “Throughout our State’s history, Arizonans have stepped up to help one another through difficult times. We cannot emphasize enough that staying home is one of the best ways to continue that tradition. All Arizonans must help stop the spread by modeling social responsibility and caution for our communities.”
From their letter:
“Arizona must not squander the opportunity to learn from the unfolding events in our sister states and immediately formalize a statewide Stay-At-Home order to ensure that we pursue every avenue to #flattenthecurve of this devastating pandemic.
Twenty-eight other states that represent more than 50% of the American constituency, have already officially urged everyone to stay home. The ever-increasing numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths serve as a stark indicator of what is to come if we do not take action now.
” The only way at this moment in time to save lives is to stay at home and #flattenthecurve. Empower Arizona!— AZ Mayors to Ducey.
Respectfully,
Mayor Anna Tovar, City of Tolleson
Mayor Alexis Hermosillo, City of El Mirage
Mayor Coral Evans, City of Flagstaff
Mayor Kate Gallego, City of Phoenix
Mayor Ginny Dickey, Town of Fountain Hills
Mayor Regina Romero, City of Tucson
Mayor Valerie Molina, Town of Guadalupe
Mayor Thomas L. McCauley, City of Winslow
Mila Besich, Town of Superior
Ducey and Hoffman said the decision to keep schools closed is a response to new federal guidance to maintain social distancing practices through at least the end of April. Health authorities recommend people avoid congregating in large groups and maintain at least six feet for separation from others others to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The order applies to public and charter schools. Private schools must remain closed through April 30, and administrators can decide what to do after that.
