By Andrew Nicla | Arizona Capitol Times
The Governor’s Office told Arizona mayors Monday the state will essentially mirror President Trump’s plan to reopen the economy in phases, but that it’s not yet ready to take the first step.
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Gov. Doug Ducey’s policy advisor Ben Blink said that on a morning conference call, one of several the office has had with mayors over the last month, and gave them the closest thing to an insight of how the office is considering a phased reopening. The announcement comes after Ducey said last week it was up to him, not Trump, when the state reopens.
When asked by Winslow Mayor Thomas McCauley what criteria Ducey would be looking for, Blink said the state will be using “basically the same” criteria in Trump’s plan. The state, Blink said, will be looking for downward trajectories in influenza-like illnesses and COVID-like illnesses.
“We want to make sure we’ve got the data we need that’s robust enough in Arizona before making those types of decisions,” Blink said.
Trump released his three-phase plan April 16, a set of skeletal guidelines for states that see fewer reports of COVID-19 and influenza-like illnesses for two weeks. The idea is to slowly open up businesses to normal operations while slowly reeling back social distancing measures.
“Right now, we do not consider ourselves to be in Phase One, mainly because we haven’t hit some of the key metrics that the White House is looking for to enter that phase,” Blink said. “I think we’re still waiting for that downward trajectory. We’re still waiting on that 14-day trajectory to be able to do that.”
