Phoenix, Arizona - Arizona's COVID-19 Actions To Date:
January 27: Activated The Health Emergency Operations Center
Opened the Health Emergency Operations Center after the first reported case of COVID-19 in Arizona to monitor the situation at the local, national and global level
March 2: Started Testing For COVID-19 At The State Lab
Became one of the first states in the nation to be certified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to test for COVID-19
March 4: Secured $500,000 In Initial Federal Funding
Provided immediate access to resources for states and local jurisdictions impacted by the outbreak.
March 11: Declared Public Health Emergency
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Gave health officials more funding to fight COVID-19
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Designated the Arizona Department of Health Services as the agency leading Arizona’s response to COVID-19
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Activated the State Emergency Operations Center in addition to the Health Emergency Operations Center to coordinate resources
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Waived certain licensing requirements to increase access to healthcare
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Gave the state emergency procurement authority to purchase supplies
March 11: Issued Executive Order to protect high risk populations and ensure care
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Required insurance companies and health plans to cover out of network providers for COVID-19 testing
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Waived all copays, coinsurance, and deductibles for COVID-19 testing
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Reduced co-pays for telemedicine visits
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Prohibited price-gouging on COVID-19 testing and treatment
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Required symptom checks of healthcare workers and visitors at skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities
March 12: Secured New Federal Funding
More than $12.4 million in new funding from the CDC is being used for disease surveillance and investigation, lab testing, purchasing supplies and communicating information to the public.
March 12: Passed New State Public Health Funding
Signed legislation to appropriate $55 million to Arizona’s Public Health Emergency Fund to combat COVID-19.
March 12: Held Statewide Call With School Leaders
Joined Superintendent Kathy Hoffman and Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ to brief more than 400 school district leaders on COVID-19 and answer their questions.
March 15: Closed Schools To Address Staffing Shortages
Jointly announced a statewide closure of schools with Superintendent Hoffman to bring certainty and consistency for parents, students and teachers across the state.
March 15: Partnered With Boys & Girls Club On Childcare
Announced emergency operational funding to support youth impacted by school closures and ensure childcare availability for children of health care workers, public safety and other essential staff. A full list of child options can be found at azed.gov.
March 16: Issued New Guidance To Cancel Gatherings
Released new guidance for dining establishments, child care providers, nursing homes, and additional social distancing measures. Recommends canceling or postponing gatherings of 10 or more people.
March 17: Updated Southern Arizona Health Leaders
Met with public health officials and hospital Chief Medical Officers in Tucson to provide an update on Arizona’s COVID-19 response and hear their needs.
March 18: Held Conference Call With Tribal Leaders
Discussed emergency declarations being issued for tribal nations and ongoing steps to combat COVID-19.
March 18: Met With Local Public Health Officials
Met with public health officials from all 15 counties in Arizona to build on the state’s efforts to address COVID-19.
March 19: Passed Out Free Meals For Kids At Sunset Elementary School
Joined Superintendent Hoffman to pass out free meals for students in the Cartwright School District and highlight free meal programs for kids during school closures.
March 19: Activated The Arizona National Guard
The Arizona National Guard will help grocery stores and food banks keep shelves stocked in the face of heightened demand.
March 19: Extended Expiration Dates For Driver Licenses: Issued an Executive Order to reduce the need for in-person visits to Motor Vehicle Division Offices.
March 19: Delayed Elective Surgeries To Increase Hospital Capacity: Issued an Executive Order that halts all elective surgeries in the state of Arizona to free up medical resources and maintain the capacity for hospitals and providers to continue offering vital services.
March 19: Released New Guidance For Dining Establishments And Other Businesses:
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Required restaurants in Arizona counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases to provide dine-out options only, while closing bars, gyms and movie theaters.
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Allowed restaurants to deliver alcoholic beverages with the purchase of food to assist in mitigating the financial consequences of restaurant closures
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Allowed manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers to buy back unopened products from restaurants, bars and clubs.
March 19: Secured Small Business Administration Disaster Loans For Local Businesses
Helps small businesses impacted by COVID-19 access up to $2 million through the program.
March 20: Volunteered At St. Mary’s Food Bank
Joined statewide and community leaders to pack boxes and bring attention to Arizona food banks’ urgent need for help.
March 20: Extended School Closures For Two More Weeks
Jointly announced with Superintendent Hoffman a two-week extension of school closures through Friday, April 10, 2020.
March 20: Expanded Access To Unemployment Insurance
Issued an Executive Order that:
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Waived the one-week waiting period after an employee loses a job before they apply for unemployment benefits.
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Waived work search requirements for those receiving unemployment benefits.
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Added people who work at a business that has been temporarily closed or has reduced hours because of COVID-19, who have to quarantine because of COVID-19, or who have to care for a family member with COVID-19.
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Waived any increase in employer payments to the unemployment insurance fund for businesses whose employees receive benefits under this provision.
March 20: Extended Tax Deadline
Extended the state income tax deadline to July 15, 2020 to match the new federal deadline.
March 21: Secured Medical Protective Equipment Shipment From National Strategic Stockpile
Included more than 440,000 personal protective equipment that will be distributed to county health departments to provide to local hospitals and medical professionals.
March 22: Launched New Statewide 2-1-1 Hotline For COVID-19
Launched a new 2-1-1 COVID-19 hotline to provide information and answer questions through $2 million in funding provided by the Arizona Department of Economic Security.
March 23: Issued Executive Order Defining Essential Services
Proactively provided clarity and certainty to businesses and workers about what is an essential service to ensure consistent guidance across the state.
March 23: Issued Executive Order To Accelerate Tracking Of COVID-19
Required hospitals and testing laboratories to report key metrics that will accelerate tracking of COVID-19 cases and strengthen the state’s response.
March 24: Launched Arizona Together Initiative Linking Arizonans To Resources
Launched ArizonaTogether.org, a centralized location for Arizonans to access resources and information during the COVID 19 outbreak.
March 24: Took Step To Free Up More Physicians To Address COVID-19
Waived rules requiring a physician to oversee Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, freeing up more doctors up to provide other needed medical services.
March 24: Announced Childcare For COVID-19 Frontline Workers
Launched Arizona Enrichment Centers to provide childcare for children of first responders, healthcare workers, and essential public sector workers.
March 24: Received Authority To Implement Medicaid Changes To Address COVID-19
Received federal approval to implement programmatic changes to help ensure access to health care for kids and vulnerable Arizonans by waiving certain Medicaid and KidsCare (CHIP) rules.
March 24: Issued Order Delaying Evictions For Renters Impacted By COVID-19
Issued an executive order delaying the enforcement of eviction action orders for renters impacted by COVID-19.
March 25: Requested Changes To Food Assistance Program
Requested the federal government expand the federal food stamp program so people impacted by COVID-19 can get more benefits faster and for hot food.
March 25: Expanded Telemedicine Coverage For Arizonans
Issued an executive order expanding coverage of telemedicine services.
March 25: Announced $5.3 Million For Meals For Arizona Seniors
Announced $5.3 million for “Meals on Wheels” to provide meals to older adults.
March 25: Requested Special Health Care Enrollment Period
Requesting a special enrollment period on the Federal Insurance Marketplace so people who have lost their income can buy health insurance.
March 25: Signed Legislation To Increase Resources For Arizona Hospitals
Signed legislation to bring more resources into Arizona’s health care system by increasing Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) provider rates for hospitals, doctors and more.
March 26: Announced Electric Utility Relief Package
Announced a cooperative agreement with the state’s largest electric utilities so no one has their power shut off due to COVID-19.
March 26: Issued Executive Order To Ensure Hospital Preparedness
Issued an executive order expanding hospital capacity and increasing hospital beds in the state by 50 percent.
March 26: Issued Executive Order To Expand Licensing Opportunities
Helped licensed professionals stay licensed and deferring certain requirements for six months.
March 26: Waived Emissions Testing For Seniors To Reduce COVID-19 Risk
Announced the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality will waive emissions tests vehicle owners 65 and older for up to one year.
March 27: Announced New Dollars For Rental Assistance
Announced $5 million in new resources to help Arizonans struggling to make rent due to COVID-19.
March 27: Signed Legislation To Support Schools, Teachers And Families
Signed legislation to support schools during closures, provide clarity and flexibility on statewide testing requirements and school letter grades, give direction on make-up days, require learning opportunities for students to continue, and ensure teachers and staff see no disruption in pay as a result of COVID-19.
March 27: Signed Legislation To Expand Access To Unemployment Benefits
Signed legislation and issued an executive order to expand access to unemployment benefits.
March 28: Signed Bipartisan State Budget Agreement
Signed a bipartisan state budget agreement that adds $50 million for Arizona’s COVID-19 response, including dollars to assist Arizonans needing eviction assistance, struggling small businesses, our food banks and our homeless population.
March 30: Extended School Closures Through The End Of The School Year
March 30: Announced A Cooperative Agreement With The State’s Banks To Protect Small Businesses And Families From Eviction And Foreclosure