Declaration of Emergency COVID-19 (State of Arizona)

Summary

A Declaration of Emergency signed by Arizona Governor Douglas A. Ducey at the Capitol in Phoenix, declaring that a State of Emergency exists in Arizona due to the COVID-19 outbreak, effective March 11, 2020, under A.R.S. §§ 26-303(D) and 36-787. Its recitals cite the World Health Organization's pandemic declaration of March 11, 2020, 124,908 confirmed cases and 4,591 deaths worldwide, and 9 cases identified in Arizona. The declaration directs that the State of Arizona Emergency Response and Recovery Plan be used, engages the Division of Emergency Management to assist the Arizona Department of Health Services, and authorizes the Department's Director to coordinate the public health emergency response. It will be eligible for termination upon the resolution of the outbreak as determined by the Department.

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DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY
*COVID-19*

WHEREAS, the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International
Concern on January 30, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services
declared a Public Health Emergency related to the COVID-19 outbreak on January 31, 2020, and
the World Health Organization officially declared a pandemic due to COVID-19 on March 11,
2020; and

WHEREAS, globally there are 124,908 total confirmed cases and 4,591 total deaths to-date
related to COVID-19, and the situation is rapidly evolving with person-to-person transmission and
continued community transmission; and

WHEREAS, COVID-19 was first discovered in Wuhan, China, and is known to cause respiratory
illness, which can result in severe disease complications and death; and

WHEREAS, Arizona is proactively leading on the COVID-19 response in the United States, as
the third of 39 states that have confirmed cases of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the Arizona Department of Health Services and local public health departments have
identified 9 cases of COVID-19, including cases spreading in the community, and have additional
patients under investigation linked to the global outbreak; and

WHEREAS, COVID-19 poses a serious public health threat for infectious disease spread to
Arizona residents and visitors if proper precautions recommended by public health are not
followed; and

WHEREAS, the Arizona Department of Health Services in partnership with the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local public health departments have implemented
disease surveillance and testing for confirmed COVID-19 case(s) and patients under investigation;
and

WHEREAS, in Arizona, public health and health care systems have identified precautions and
interventions that can mitigate the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the Arizona Department of Health Services requires a more robust and integrated
response to successfully combat the COVID-19 outbreak; and

WHEREAS, the Governor and the Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services have
reasonable cause to believe the spread of COVID-19 can lead to severe respiratory illness, disease
complications, and death for Arizona residents, particularly those with underlying medical
conditions or the elderly; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary and appropriate to take action to ensure the spread of COVID-19 is
controlled and that the residents of Arizona remain safe and healthy; and
WHEREAS, the Governor is authorized to declare an emergency pursuant to A.R.S. § 26-303(D)
and in accordance with A.R.S. § 26-301(15).

WHEREAS, pursuant to A.R.S. § 26-307(A), a state agency, when designated by the Governor,
may make, amend and rescind orders, rules and regulations necessary for emergency functions;

WHEREAS, pursuant to A.R.S. § 36-787(A), during a state of emergency declared by the
Governor as a result of an occurrence or imminent threat of illness or health condition caused by
an epidemic that poses a substantial risk of a significant number of human fatalities or incidents
of permanent or long-term disability, the Arizona Department of Health Services shall coordinate
all matters pertaining to the public health emergency response of the State; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to A.R.S. § 36-787(B) and (C), during a state of emergency declared by the
Governor, the Governor, in consultation with the Director of the Arizona Department of Health
Services, may issue orders pertaining to the public health emergency response of the State; and

WHEREAS, pursuant A.R.S. § § 36-788 and 36-789, during a state of emergency declared by the
Governor, the Arizona Department of Health Services, to protect the public health, may establish
and maintain places of isolation and quarantine and require the isolation or quarantine of any
person who has contracted or been exposed to a highly contagious and fatal disease;

WHEREAS, the Legislature has authorized the expenditure of funds in an event of an emergency
pursuant to A.R.S. § 35-192; and

WHEREAS, Executive Order 2017-06 establishes the Arizona Emergency Response and
Recovery Plan to assist in responding to emergencies including public health emergencies; and

NOW, THEREFORE I, Douglas A. Ducey, Governor of the State of Arizona, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State, do hereby determine that the
COVID-19 outbreak presents conditions in Arizona, which are or are likely to be beyond the
control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of any single county, city or town,
and which require the combined efforts of the State and the political subdivision, and thus
justifies a declaration of a State of Emergency; accordingly, pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 26-303(D)
and 36-787, I do hereby:

a. Declare that a State of Emergency exists in Arizona due to the COVID-19
outbreak, effective March 11, 2020; and

b. Direct that the State of Arizona Emergency Response and Recovery Plan be used,
and the Division of Emergency Management to be engaged, as necessary or
requested, to assist the Arizona Department of Health Services’ coordination of
the public health emergency response and authorize the use of state assets as
necessary; and
c. Authorize the Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services to
coordinate all matters pertaining to the public health emergency response of the
State in accordance with A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 6, Article 9;

This Emergency Declaration will be eligible for termination upon the resolution of the
outbreak as determined by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, | have hereunto set
my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal
of the State of Arizona.

ATTEST:

GOVERNOR

DONE at the Capitol in Phoenix on this 11" day
fiz ' of March in the Year Two Thousand Twenty and
wo ae of the Independence of the United States of
J America the Year Two Hundred and Forty-Fourth.

\

Secretary of State

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