Ariz. will let some businesses reopen
Governor extends order, says virus deaths down
PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Wednesday extended his stay-at-home order through May 15 but said he was partially ending his order closing nonessential businesses.
The Republican governor said there are signs the spread of the new coronavirus has slowed in the state, but there’s no clear indication that deaths and new cases are trending down. He can’t fully reopen the state until that becomes clear, Ducey said.
He’s allowing some retail businesses to open next Monday, with more openings by the end of next week. He’s expecting restaurants to be allowed to partially reopen in about two weeks, but he hasn’t yet made that official.
Ducey closed schools on March 15 and bars and restaurants on March 19. The stay-home order he issued on March 30 allowed people to carry out essential tasks such as working, exercising and going to the doctor, grocery store or pharmacy. It otherwise required people to stay at home and barred nonessential businesses from operating as usual.
He has been under pressure to reopen the state economy from business groups and people who opposed the shutdown order. But he was urged by the mayors of Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff to keep the order in place to protect public health.
The number of Arizona deaths linked to the coronavirus outbreak has surpassed 300, officials said Wednesday.
In other developments:
Gov. Gavin Newsom will order all beaches and state parks closed Friday after tens of thousands of people flocked to the seashore last weekend during a heat wave despite his stay-at-home order, according to a memo sent Wednesday evening to police chiefs around California.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio defended his tweets criticizing a large Orthodox Jewish funeral. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said daily deaths are down but still “disgustingly high.” Front-line health care workers and first responders will be mass tested for antibodies.
Statistics reported by the
Vermont Health Department show the first day in weeks in which no new cases were reported of people infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
Arkansas restaurants can reopen their dining rooms starting May 11, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. Hutchinson said restaurants, which have only been allowed to sell food via carryout, curbside and delivery since March 20, will be limited to 33 percent occupancy and will face other social distancing restrictions.
An Illinois legislator filed a second legal challenge to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s efforts to discourage transmission of the coronavirus, saying he’s seeking a compromise on the statewide stay-at-home order. The lawsuit filed by Rep. John Cabello says the governor’s emergency powers are limited to 30 days and that Pritzker therefore had no right to extend his March 21 order through the end of May.
Florida’s restaurants and retail stores will be allowed to reopen Monday at 25 percent capacity, if the local government allows it, Gov. Ron Desantis announced. The governor specifically excluded hard-hit, heavily populated Miami-dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, saying their businesses will begin phase one when it is safer.