Coronavirus: Arizona Gov. Issues Stay At Home Order

Geoff Dempsey
Updated ·3 min read

PHOENIX, AZ — Arizonans are ordered to stay at home except for essential activities effective 5 p.m. Tuesday. A release from Gov. Doug Ducey's office says the measure is a part of the state's effort to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

"Stay home, Stay healthy, Stay connected," the governor's release says. It's designed to increase physical distancing while encouraging social connectedness.

According to the executive order, Arizonans will stay at home except for certain necessary activities, including:

  • To conduct or participate in essential activities (listed below)

  • For employment, to volunteer or participate in essential functions

  • To utilize any services or products provided by essential business services

  • And for employment if as a sole proprietor or family owned business, work is conducted in a separate office space from your home and the business is not open to serve the public.

"Keeping Arizonans safe and healthy as we slow the spread of COVID-19 remains our top priority," Ducey said in the release.

See the full news release here.

"Arizona citizens and businesses are already responsibly responding to this crisis. This order builds on the state’s efforts to protect public health by reminding Arizonans to maintain healthy habits and find alternative ways to stay connected with friends and loved ones while spending time at home," Ducey said.

"I’m grateful to everyone making adjustments to fight this virus and protect others. Arizona will get through this, and we’ll do it together," Ducey said.

Under this policy, essential activities include:

  • Obtaining necessary supplies and services for family, household members and pets, such as groceries, food and supplies for household consumption and use, supplies and equipment needed to work from home, assignments for completion of distance learning and products necessary to maintain safety, sanitation and essential maintenance of the home, residence.

  • Engaging in activities essential for health and safety, including things such as seeking medical, behavioral health or emergency services and obtaining medical supplies or medication.

  • Caring for a family member, friend, or pet in another household or residence, which includes but is not limited to transportation for essential health and safety activities and to obtain necessary supplies and services for the other household.

  • Engaging in outdoor exercise activities, such as walking, hiking, running, biking or golfing, but only if appropriate physical distancing practices are used.

  • Attending work in or conducting essential services which includes but is not limited to transporting children to child care services for attending work in an essential service.

  • Engaging in constitutionally protected activities such as speech and religion, the democratic process to include voting any legal or court process provided that such is conducted in a manner that provides appropriate physical distancing to the extent feasible.

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This article originally appeared on the Phoenix Patch