Carmona reiterates need for Arizonans to remain vigilant against COVID-19
Oct 1, 2021, 12:45 PM | Updated: 12:46 pm
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
PHOENIX — On the same day COVID-19 deaths in the state surpassed 20,000, Gov. Doug Ducey’s top pandemic adviser reiterated the need for Arizonans to stay vigilant in fighting the virus.
Dr. Richard Carmona said Friday that Arizonans should follow public health mitigation strategies, including wearing masks indoors in most situations, with COVID-19 continuing to heavily impact the state.
Carmona, who previously served as the U.S. Attorney General, said the state can’t lose sight of its purpose in the fight against COVID-19.
“I’ve told the governor and I will tell you, I view the public health challenge we face as a war,” Carmona said in a blog post. “It’s a winnable war, and public health is very much on the front lines.
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“But like so many of the wars our nation has fought in the past, we can’t defeat the enemy on our own.”
Carmona, in the month since he officially joined the state’s COVID-19 response team, has been focused on fighting the virus together instead of allowing opposing sides create more division on how to temper the virus, which had officially killed 20,039 in Arizona as of Friday.
Only 10 other states have reached that mark since the pandemic started.
“The number of deaths, the number of cases, the number of hospitalizations – these aren’t just numbers,” Carmona said. “They are our fellow Arizonans. They are men and women from every corner of our state. They are our loved ones, neighbors, and colleagues. They have names.
“Having spent the better part of my adult life as a health care provider, this is very much not an issue of numbers. It’s about people.”
Politicizing issues such as mask wearing and getting the vaccine are ones he’s trying to get Arizonans to move away from as flu season approaches.
Carmona said increasing vaccinations remains the state’s top priority.
“I’ve said it before, and it bears repeating: Vaccines are probably the most significant human health advancement in history,” Carmona said.
“If you remain hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19, please seek out facts from trusted sources such as your doctor, the ADHS website or the CDC.”
