Gov. Ducey orders closure of bars, gyms, movie theaters, water parks, and tubing; delays first day of school
Full news conference: Ducey orders closure of bars, gyms, movie theaters, water parks, and tubing
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey held a news conference on June 29 after another record-breaking weekend for positive coronavirus cases across the state, as well as some hospitals announcing they have activated their surge plans.
PHOENIX - Arizona will not be getting back to normal any time soon. During a news conference, Governor Doug Ducey rolled back the state's reopening, announcing new closures and delaying the start of the school year.
Arizona has seen a big surge in COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks, so the governor is trying to flatten the curve and get things going in the right direction again.
Changes that will take effect at 8 p.m. on June 29 include closing bars, gyms, movie theaters, water parks and tubing. The closures will last for 30 days and be re-evaluated.
“Our expectation is that our numbers next week will be worse,” he said.
Public events of more than 50 people have also been banned. Pools, both public and private at apartment complexes and hotels, will be limited to 10 people at a time.
Another big announcement: the beginning of the school year has been delayed until August 17, so parents might have to change some plans moving forward.
Ducey says we can win the fight, but only if everybody does their part.
"We need to slow the spread.. mask up. Please wear a mask... we're not going back to normal any time soon."
Arizona Department of Health Director Dr. Cara Christ also announced they will activate Crisis Standards of Care.
During Ducey's last news conference on June 25, he urged Arizonans to stay home and to wear masks when in public. However, he did not take any specific action to curb the virus outbreak.
The governor also admitted that hospitals were expected to hit surge capacity soon.
More than 3,800 additional cases were reported on June 28, marking the seventh time in the last 10 days that daily cases surpassed the 3,000 mark.
On June 29, a lab missed the deadline to submit positive cases for Arizona, so the Department of Health Services only reported 625 new cases. The next day, Banner Desert Medical Center announced it had activated its surge plan. Valleywise Health Medical Center in Phoenix followed suit.
A hospital spokesperson for Banner Health tells FOX 10 the plan includes using unoccupied patient care areas on the Mesa campus, as well as some areas within Cardon Children's Hospital for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients.
This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 10 News for updates.
Continuing Coverage
In order to protect yourself from a possible infection, the CDC recommends:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
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- How coronavirus differs from flu: Symptoms to watch for
Symptoms for coronavirus COVID-19 include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. These, of course, are similar to the common cold and flu.
Expect a common cold to start out with a sore or scratchy throat, cough, runny and/or stuffy nose. Flu symptoms are more intense and usually come on suddenly, and can include a high fever.
Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear more slowly. They usually include fever, a dry cough and noticeable shortness of breath, according to the World Health Organization. A minority of cases develop pneumonia, and the disease is especially worrisome for the elderly and those with other medical problems such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes or heart conditions.
RELATED: Is it the flu, a cold or COVID-19? Different viruses present similar symptoms
Right now there's one big difference between flu and coronavirus: A vaccine exists to help prevent the flu and it's not too late to get it. It won't protect you from catching the coronavirus, but may put you in a better position to fight it.
To protect yourself, wash your hands well and often, keep them away from your face, and avoid crowds and standing close to people.
And if you do find yourself showing any of these flu or coronavirus symptoms - don't go straight to your doctor's office. That just risks making more people sick, officials urge. Call ahead, and ask if you need to be seen and where.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.