Ducey says ‘best’ decisions will be made for Arizona on reopening state

PHOENIX — With Arizona’s “stay-at-home” order set to expire in about two weeks, Gov. Doug Ducey will soon have to decide the state’s next step in fighting the coronavirus outbreak.

Whether that decision is to slowly start reopening the state or mandating a longer social distancing period is unknown, but Ducey is clear about the approach he will take.

The Republican governor said Tuesday on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Gaydos and Chad that he’ll make the best decisions relative to Arizona.

Ducey believes the scope of the virus Arizona is facing is different than other states and his response needs to follow that.

“I’m going to make the ones in the light that are best for Arizona,” Ducey said. “What’s happening here is what’s different than what’s happening in New York state and we hope we don’t get there but we’re preparing just in case.”

Ducey has repeatedly deferred to state public health officials on how to deal with restrictions regarding the virus, which has infected more than 3,000 in Arizona.

He’s been more direct in his dealings with how the state economy will recover from the pandemic.

On Tuesday, Ducey asked leaders from Arizona’s lodging and business communities in letters to provide their feedback on a plan for economic recovery.

Ducey said he’d like to open up the state, but only when the time is right.

“It’s not like a light switch that you turn off or on but almost like the loosening of a screw that allows more blood to flow through our economy,” Ducey said. “But we want to make sure from a public health perspective that is the right time to do it.”

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