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Page 9 LATEST NEWS @ PRESS TIME 03/23/20 Ducey: Troops needed for more than grocery help, state ‘catastrophically affected’ by COVID-19 By: Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services March 22, 2020 Gov. Doug Ducey wants federal dollars and an expand- ed role fo r the Arizona National Guard, saying the citizens, economy and infrastructure of the state have been “catastrophically affected” by COVID-19. “The State of Arizona resources are being over- whelmed and additional federal funding is critical,” Ducey wrote in a letter Friday to Defense Secretary Mark Esper. “This event has caused and continues to cause widespread effects (both known and unknown).” The governor’s letter went out the same day that he and Maj. Gen. Michael McGuire had a press conference to explain the role that Guard troops, called out by Ducey the day before, would play. Both emphasized that they were there for logistical support, largely to help restock the shelves of grocery stores that had been stripped bare of many items by people who were hoarding. “We can do big-scale logistics,” said McGuire, the adjutant general of the Arizona National Guard. He said that particularly means moving large quantities of food “that final mile” between warehouses and grocery stores. What was not mentioned at the time was that Ducey was telling Esper that he fore- sees the need for up to 5,500 troops and an even larger role for the Guard, including: ▪ providing hazmat protective equipment to hospitals which now have “inadequate and uni-sized protective gear;” ▪ assembly and preparation of field hospitals to treat those with non-COVID-19 con- ditions to allow hospitals to focus on those with the novel coronavirus; ▪ provide a reserve of medical providers. But Ducey said it may not stop there, saying troops could provide “additional assis- tance (which) may also include future support to local law enforcement. The governor said, though, duties would include those “not impeded by Posse Comitatus. That 1878 law prohibits the use of the military to enforce the law or suppress civil disorder unless expressly ordered to do so by the president. But the governor said that those limitations do not apply when Guard troops are “under state command and control.” Ducey did not explain what role he wants them to play but only that they are needed — and the federal government should come up with some cash. “The citizens, economy and infrastructure of the state of Arizona catastrophically affected by COVID-19 ultimately affects the citizens, economy and infrastructure of the nation,” the governor wrote. And he said that without federal funding “Arizona will be incapable of quelling the risk to the state and nation.” Gubernatorial press aide Patrick Ptak denied late Sunday that his boss was with- holding information from the public about conditions in Arizona or the role Ducey wants the Guard to play. “This letter is intended to secure an offset from the federal government for National Guard activity here in the state,” he said. And Ptak denied that his boss is either not telling the whole story to Arizona residents or to the Pentagon whose dollars he is seeking. “We’ve been straightforward about what we expect them to do,” he said, calling the letter and the verbiage “something we have to do” to draw down federal dollars. “The governor has been very transparent about Arizona’s COVID-19 response, including daily press briefings last week,” Ptak said. When Ducey wrote the letter to Esper he told the Pentagon chief that Arizona had 44 confirmed cases and no known deaths. As of Sunday afternoon that number had reached 152 with two deaths. Banner Health launches drive- through process to test for coron- avirus By Angela Gonzales – Senior Reporter, Phoenix Business Journal/March 23, 2020 If you think you have the coronavirus, the state's largest health system has created a new drive-through process to get tested — while you're still in your vehicle. Monday, Phoenix-based Banner Health unveiled a drive through process that will allow patients to remain in their vehicles while providing a quick sample. But first, patients are asked to call ahead at 844-549-1851 to determine if testing is appropriate. The line will be staffed by a clinical care team Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. Once a health expert determines you qualify for testing, you make an appointment for your drive-through test, where your nose will be swabbed for a collection sam- ple. That sample will be sent to a Sonora Quest Laboratories, which should have the results within three to five days. If the results are negative, you can return to your normal daily routine if you don't have any other contagious symptoms. If the results are positive, Banner will notify the county and state health departments and let you know how long you need to be quarantined so you don't spread the virus to others. These drive-through sites do not accept walk-ins. Everyone must be phone screened in advance and schedule an appointment. But if you are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and believe you are experiencing a medical event that requires immediate attention, visit an emergency room for eval- uation and treatment. When you arrive at the ED, immediately put on a mask to pro- tect others. So far Banner has two testing sites in the Phoenix area and one in Tucson. Plans call for opening more test sites later. Banner offers an online interactive tool for those concerned about their symptoms. Banner also has a COVID-19 website to explain the testing process. As of March 22, the Arizona Department of Health Services has confirmed 152 cases of COVID-19 and two deaths in Arizona out of 482 people tested by the state and contracted commercial labs. Private lab testing is not tracked by the state health department. Also on March 22, Gov. Doug Ducey launched a new statewide COVID-19 Hotline through $2 million in funding provided by the Arizona Department of Economic Security. THE HOTLINE IS ADMINISTERED BY 2-1-1 ARIZONA AND THE CRISIS RESPONSE NETWORK. THE HOTLINE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH BY DIALING 211 (WHILE IN ARIZONA) FROM 8 A.M. TO 8 P.M. EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK . Lake Havasu City, AZ Saturday, March 21, 2020