Virus Prompts Gov. Ducey To Declare State Of Emergency In Arizona

PHOENIX, AZ — Gov. Doug Ducey on Wednesday declared a state of emergency to combat the continued spread of the new coronavirus in Arizona. He also issued an executive order that will lower health care costs for those affected by the virus and prohibit price gouging.

As of Thursday, there have nine confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state, according to the Arizona Department of Health. At a news conference Wednesday, Ducey said the state is not taking any chances, the Arizona Mirror reported.

“We are anticipating additional positive cases,” Ducey said. “This is about public health and protecting lives.”

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On Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus spread a "pandemic." The use of the word pandemic refers to the scope of the new coronavirus — but not its severity — and means it has become a "worldwide spread of a new disease."

Declaring a state of emergency in Arizona provides $500,000 in emergency funds to aid in measures and resources to protect public health. It also named the Arizona Department of Health Services the entity responsible for coordinating the state's response.

The declaration also allows the department of health to waive licensing requirements in order to assist health care officials in delivering services during times of high demand.

The governor's executive order aims to protect Arizona residents from costs associated with the virus. According to a statement on Ducey's website, the executive order does the following:

• Requires insurance companies and health plans to cover out of network providers, including out-of-plan laboratories and telemedicine providers.
• Waives all co-pays, coinsurance and deductibles related to coronavirus diagnostic testing, and decreases co-pays for telemedicine visits.
• Implements consumer protections and prohibits price-gouging on coronavirus diagnosis and treatment-related services.
• Requires symptom checks of healthcare workers and visitors at skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

The virus, officially called COVID-19, is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that's a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past. The symptoms are similar to seasonal influenza, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Both are infectious respiratory illnesses, but they're caused by different viruses.

Both cause fever, cough, body aches and fatigue, and can result in pneumonia. Both illnesses can sometimes cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Read more coverage on the new coronavirus in Arizona:

• Coronavirus In Arizona: 12 Cases Now Confirmed
• Alhambra Schools In Phoenix To Close Over Coronavirus Concerns
• Arizona Dems Call For Special Session To Address Coronavirus
  
• Democratic Debate Moved From Phoenix To DC Over Virus Concerns
• Arizona Sports Community Bracing For Coronavirus Impact
• Diocese of Phoenix Changes Practices Amid Coronavirus Fears
  
• Tips To Avoid Coronavirus Shared By Arizona Health Chief