text: Ducey: Visitors Entering AZ From Places With Substantial COVID-19 Spread Will Have to Quarantine Themselves for Two Weeks | The Range
  Posted By Jim Nintzel and Logan Burtch-Buus on Tue, Apr 7, 2020 at 3:42 PM
  Gov. Doug Ducey: We need better data
  Out-of-state travelers from areas with substantial community spread of COVID-19 will have to isolate or quarantine themselves for 14 days under a new executive order from Gov. Doug Ducey.
  The order does not apply to airline employees, military personnel, healthcare workers, human services personnel, workers conducting essential infrastructure operations and workers providing essential governmental functions.
  Ducey issued a number of other executive orders today regarding the outbreak. He instituted new guidelines for residential care facilities, nursing homes and other similar institutions. Staff will have to use appropriate personal protection equipment and institute symptom checks for anyone entering facilities. The order also requires healthcare facilities to supply residents with some kind of video device so they can stay in touch with family and loved ones.
  "Arizona will continue to take proactive measures to protect our seniors and vulnerable populations," said Ducey. "This order helps protect seniors and those living in health care facilities, as well as the staff and health care professionals caring for patients. My thanks to these individuals working to protect Arizona's most vulnerable as we work to slow the spread of COVID-19."
  Ducey also loosened restrictions on restaurants so they can repackage sell grocery items they have on hand even if packaging labels say "not for resale."
  "Even with dine-in and carry-out options still available to patrons, many Arizona restaurants are struggling due to COVID-19," Ducey said. "Today's executive order provides flexibility for restaurant owners to safely sell prepared and bulk foods or supplies they have on hand and can't use right now. We are proud to support Arizona restaurants with this reform."
  Hospital and health care providers will have to better track data related to COVID-19, including the number of ICU beds and ventilators in use by COVID-19 patients, the number of suspected COVID-19 patients visiting emergency rooms and estimated amount of personal protective equipment being used each day.
  "This data will allow us to better prepare for our peak in cases and hospital demand, and it will help us identify a better recovery rate for Arizonans affected with this disease," said Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. "With widespread transmission, we know that there have likely been and currently are more cases in our community. Across the country, we're learning more about the disease and how it impacts the health of Americans. While some cases are asymptomatic, we know the devastating risk that it poses to our high-risk individuals."
  In terms of healthcare capacity, Chris said that there are more than 16,000 hospital beds and 1,500 ICU beds in the state. Of those beds, 64 percent of ICU, 68 percent of hospital beds and 25 percent of the state's ventilators are in use. Arizona has approximately 1,100 ventilators available, Christ said.
  The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona had reached 2,575 as of Tuesday, April 7, according to the morning report from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
  Pima County had 415 of the state's confirmed cases.
  The coronavirus had killed 73 people statewide, according to today's state report. Later in the day, the Pima County Health Department reported that a total 15 people in Pima County have died from the virus to date.