Phoenix mayor wants to know Gov. Ducey plan for reopening state
Apr 20, 2020, 11:30 AM | Updated: 12:41 pm
(AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
PHOENIX – Mayor Kate Gallego said the city could reopen for business in phases soon during the coronavirus outbreak, but that decisionmakers needed more information from the governor’s office before that happened.
Gallego told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday that Arizona’s capital wouldn’t be able to meet the criteria set by the White House recently for reigniting the economy starting May 1.
“We’re not where we need to be. It is responsible to continue to prepare for reopening but we need good data to show us that we are ready,” Gallego said.
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Guidelines for President Donald Trump’s three-phase reopening included states’ downward trajectory in coronavirus cases for two weeks.
“I asked the Governor’s Office if they could let mayors know before they made a decision [on reopening] and they were unable to commit to that,” Gallego said.
A few weeks ago, Gallego questioned Gov. Doug Ducey’s list of essential services when he announced a stay-home executive order. Ducey eventually narrowed the list, excluding salons, barbers and tanning shops, among them.
The first-term mayor tweeted over the weekend that more testing was needed to meet the goal.
Currently, Arizona is not meeting the criteria to proceed with a May 1 reopening. In order for us to meet these metrics we need more widespread testing, including asymptomatic individuals, and a more robust contact-tracing program. #COVID19 (4/5)
— Mayor Kate Gallego (@MayorGallego) April 17, 2020
“We have entire parts of Phoenix where we have almost no testing,” Gallego said.
Phoenix could reopen slowly, once it meets the criteria, she said.
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“For example, you might see libraries open, but … computers that used to be close to each other might be farther apart.”
She likened the cautious approach to taking antibiotics.
“Your doctor tells you to take an antibiotic, you don’t stop when you start to feel better. You have to complete the course of treatment to protect yourself and the community,” Gallego said.
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KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Taylor Kinnerup contributed to this report.
