Gov. Ducey says coronavirus will get worse in Arizona before it gets better

PHOENIX – There inevitably will be more coronavirus cases diagnosed in Arizona, Gov. Doug Ducey said Tuesday, but the battle against the infectious disease is a marathon, not a sprint.

“We’re in for a slog [but] … I know we’re going to get through it and we’re going to get through it together,” Ducey told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Tuesday.

“But it’s not going to be something that is solved in a day or a week.”

The governor said other states have had a worse time than Arizona, which has seen five deaths in the COVID-19 outbreak out of 326 reported cases, and his team is learning from that.

“What can we do to be more resourceful?” Ducey said.

As of Tuesday morning, New York had 25,665 cases; New Jersey 2,844; Washington 2,223; and California 1,709.

“We’re on surge alert to get supplies, materials, hospital beds – everything that is going to be necessary to properly manage this,” Ducey said.

On Monday, Ducey issued an executive order that detailed which jobs were considered “essential services” and would suffer no closures.

Those jobs were in health care and public operations, human services, infrastructure, and businesses and operations. Businesses and operations included grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores and outdoor recreation.

“When you look out on that horizon, I am very confident and optimistic,” Ducey said.

Follow @KTAR923