Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R) on Thursday extended his executive order to close water parks, theaters, bars and gyms for another two weeks.
Ducey also declined to postpone the school’s reopening target date, but ordered the state Department of Health Services to create baseline data for in-person classes by August 17.
The state has nearly 153,000 coronavirus cases and at least 3,063 deaths as of Thursday, with 85 percent of hospital beds and 87 percent of intensive care beds full, according to AZCentral.
“There is no return to victory today. There is no celebration,” Ducey said at Thursday’s press conference. “We need to remain vigilant.”
Ducey’s order to close public spaces is reviewed biweekly. It also limits public meetings to 50 people.
“This decision is not made lightly. Companies and employees have sacrificed themselves and have had to make major adjustments. We are grateful for the compliance we have seen across the state and responsible actions to protect public health, ”Ducey said in a series of tweets Thursday.
“Now is not the time to be complacent. We must go ahead and keep doing the things that work: wear a mask, stay physically distant, avoid the congregation and the activities that lead to the congregation, and stay home as much as possible, ”he added.
This decision is not made lightly. Companies and employees have sacrificed themselves and have had to make major adjustments. We are grateful for the compliance we’ve seen across the state and responsible actions to protect public health. two /
– Doug Ducey (@dougducey) July 23, 2020
Now is not the time to be complacent. We must go ahead and keep doing the things that work: wear a mask, stay physically distant, avoid the congregation and the activities that lead to the congregation, and stay home as much as possible. 3/3
– Doug Ducey (@dougducey) July 23, 2020
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