AZ Coronavirus: Ducey Orders 30-Day 'Pause' As Cases Spike

PHOENIX, AZ — With coronavirus cases averaging more than 2,800 per day, Gov. Doug Ducey announced Monday that he has ordered a "pause" on the state's reopening plans and "additional measures" to address the state's spiking cases and hospitalizations. Ducey's executive order mandates that gyms, bars, nightclubs, theaters, pools and water parks to close for at least 30 days.

On Monday, Ducey said that the state would no longer award special event liquor licenses to reduce large gatherings. A separate executive order delays the first day for schools to return to non-distance learning from July 1 to August 17. (The order allows schools to begin their school year on their "regularly planned start date" but only through distance learning.)

Both of Ducey's executive orders go into effect Monday. During the news conference, he noted that the state's metrics for available hospital beds, the percentage positive tests, and COVID-like illnesses in emergency room are moving "in the wrong direction."

Read also: Nearly 3,900 New Coronavirus Cases In Arizona Amid Uptick

Ducey's executive order banned "organized events of more than 50 people" for at least 30 days; the order leaves the decision to allow public events to local jurisdictions, but only if the events meet social distancing and safety standards.

During the news conference, Ducey clarified that the ban does not apply to gatherings covered by the First Amendment, including religious services and campaign events.

The executive order empowers local police agencies "to take immediate action" against any business that violates the executive order or restarts operations without approval of the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Here are the industries and services ordered to close for 30 days:

• Bars with series 6 or 7 liquor licenses must pause operations, though they can continue serving customers through pick-up, delivery, and drive-through options as long as they have a series 12 liquor license.
• Indoor gyms and fitness clubs.
• Indoor movie theaters.
• Water parks and tubing operations.
• While not ordered closed, pools which operate as part of "public accommodations," such as those in hotels, can remain open only as long as they ban groups more than ten people congregating in the pool. Under the order, private pools with public access, such as those in apartment or housing complexes, must include signs at all entrances, encourage social distancing and prevent gatherings of more than ten people.

Ducey's live press conference can be seen below.

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