Over the last couple of days, Governor Doug Ducey has exhibited sound and prudent judgment over the question of whether to reopen Arizona’s economy.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday and during an interview on The Mike Broomhead Show on KTAR (92.3,) the Governor relayed that he and his team will rely on the medical and scientific data before deciding how and when to reopen the Grand Canyon State.
During his press conference, Mr. Ducey said:
“I want to get back to where we were as much as anybody in the state, but I want to do it in a safe and healthy way. What we don’t want to do is make decisions too early and be in a position where we have to come back and reverse a decision.”
Hopefully, the Governor will continue to show the same prudent judgment that the Mayors of Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson have advocated and not be swayed by the impatient, and frankly, uninformed crowds that descended on the capital on Sunday and Monday.
The consensus among the medical and scientific community is that more testing needs to occur before a full reopening of Arizona’s economy is approved. Hospitals and first responders must also have a sufficient inventory of medical equipment like Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to meet any peaks or second waves of the Coronavirus that have yet to occur.
Arizona Democratic Congressional Candidates in Districts Four, Five, Six, and Eight offered their views on testing and reopening the economy.
Please see below for their comments.
Congressional District Four Democratic Candidate Delina DiSanto
“When you start pulling back on trying to reduce the severity and seriousness and the physical separations, there will be infections. Without doing widespread testing across the country will be counterproductive. We have and will continue to overstretch our healthcare workers and systems. Testing must be priority one for our government to ensure we get the tests to the hot areas first. Our government must ensure the manufacturers get the supplies they need internationally so they can produce the tests and then distribute them across the nation and into the communities hit hard. At that point, contact tracing needs to be done so public health management can be done in communities. It’s imperative that we determine who had the virus and may have antibodies and those who are asymptomatic or infected so they can be quarantined or isolated. Tracing those you had been in contact with and test them will decrease the spread. Once we know who is not infected, we can then start opening the least affected communities in a systematic fashion to go back to work. Hopefully, we get a vaccine soon.”
Congressional District Five Candidate Joan Greene
“We must rely on the health and science experts and NOT the elected people to guide us. The experts tell us we need 100,000 accurate tests per month and we must test several times per person to confirm not only the accuracy of the test but that we did not miss when or if the virus was present.”
“We must also include the combination of testing data and contact tracing to reopen safely.”
“Arizona being in the bottom ten for states testing nationwide confirms the lack of GOP leadership on the state and federal level to protect the lives and livelihoods of the citizens.”
Congressional District Six Candidate Anita Malik
“We need to increase testing significantly before we can even consider reopening the economy. We need the metrics, the data to show we are ready and we won’t have that without the tests. We need to rely on science and listen to the experts. It is important to also keep in mind that we’ll need to continue economic aid even when we reopen. We must be thinking about long term financial assistance now.”
Congressional District Six Candidate Stephanie Rimmer
“I support a cautious re-open based upon data from testing. The models predicting outcomes of COVID19 have varied considerably to the extent that we cannot rely upon anyone as a baseline from which to operate and make decisions. Testing is the only way to improve the models and make more informed choices. I appreciate the inclusiveness our state and local leaders have had toward each other and the long hours public officials and staff are working to gather reliable information and make the best possible decisions they can on behalf of Arizonans. Soon we will need solutions to increasing poverty and the risks that are associated with lack of access to healthcare, reduced income for household bills including air conditioning during our hot summer months, and job loss. This will be a tough next few months for us in Arizona, but together we will emerge stronger.”
Congressional District Eight Democratic Candidate Michael Muscato
“One in ten Arizona small businesses received PPP assistance with the first $349 billion package. Within a day the next $310 billion was gone as well. Millions of small businesses and workers have been unable to receive any financial assistance despite an estimated $ six trillion in payouts from the federal government. So when we now hear our representatives saying it’s time to “re-open” the economy…what they are really saying is “thanks for the money, now go back to work for us.” Where did the six trillion dollars in taxpayer money go? We all know where it went: lobbyists, corporations, and campaign donors.”
“What has changed in regards to health and safety that would make us think of going away from social distancing right now is an intelligent idea?”
“Let’s ask these questions:
1) Do we have the ability to meet testing needs? – No
2) Is there a vaccination? – No
3) Do businesses and individuals have access to PPE’s, cleaning supplies, testing? – No
4) Is our infection rate lowering here in AZ? – No”
“So with none of those very basic needs being met…why “re-open”?….Well, the argument is being made that people and businesses are struggling financially. As a business owner myself, I know all too well about having my business closed and my financial means to support my family cut off. I’ve watched as businesses like mine have received nothing while Ruths Chris and the Ritz rake in $20-$50million of PPP money. I’ve experienced first hand what it looks like to work for seven years building a business only to be forced into unemployment. Heck yeah, I want to open my business!….but that isn’t the point… How do we open our doors when our employees, our customers, and our health and safety are at risk with no way to stop it? How do we open our doors to slashed revenues, limited consumers, and economic uncertainty without ever having received the financial assistance the government promised us? How do we “recover” if there is no “recovery” of either our health or individual incomes? “
“The politicians attempting to force us all to choose between financial ruin and physical death should be removed from office. If the $ six trillion of taxpayer money had gone to small businesses and American workers this entire country would be able to wait this out until we had answers and solutions to the serious questions and concerns we all have. But then again, who should America listen to?… Healthcare professionals or the guy who wants us all to pump ourselves full of malaria pills and inject cleaning solutions into our bodies?”
We will never be the greatest nation in the world again if we continue to deny science and defy common sense.
Congressional District Eight Democratic Candidate Bob Musselwhite
“Testing is the key to safely and carefully returning to normal. Until tests are available for use by our medical community when needed we are not ready.”
“Disease vectoring (tracking) was first used in a cholera outbreak in London around 1854. (Dr. John Snow) We know what needs to be done. Let’s do it.”
Everyone wants the economy to reopen.
Everyone wants to be able to go out and know they are safe going to work or having fun with their family or friends.
But the old adage of “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure” is still appropriate in this situation. Until testing is intensified and the medical/scientific community is assured the peak in Arizona has occurred, it is advisable to remain cautious and not act prematurely to fully open the state up (or in a large enough phase that could be harmful) so people’s health and lives are not needless risked.
It is the right thing to do.
Hopefully, the Governor will continue to be guided by the experts like fellow Republican Governors Mike DeVine in Ohio or Larry Hogan in Maryland or Greg Abbot in Texas or Charlie Baker in Massachusetts or Phil Scott in Vermont.
Hopefully.