Sedona AZ (April 25, 2020) – Verde Valley leaders from Camp Verde, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Jerome, Sedona and Yavapai County issued the following statement to residents:
There is not a person in the Verde Valley who can escape the effects of COVID-19. From job loss, to isolation from friends and family, to those on the front lines working every day to provide essentials, this is truly an unprecedented time. It’s important that residents know that the local governments in the Verde Valley have been working together with state, county and federal officials, hospitals, first responders, schools, area non-profits and businesses during the pandemic response. Until a vaccine and or treatment is developed, the goal from the beginning of this pandemic has been to flatten the curve and to stop the rapid spread of COVID-19. Leaders in the Verde Valley are proud of residents for heeding the advice of the county health departments, Arizona Department of Health Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the White House.
Yavapai County reported the first COVID-19 case on March 19th. In the following three weeks, 60 additional cases were reported. However, with stay-at-home orders in effect, we have seen a flattening of the curve in and in approximately the last two weeks, only 15 new cases were reported, raising the total number of cases to 75. This progression proves that we have slowed the spread of COVID-19 in the Verde Valley. Coconino County has reported significantly greater confirmed cases of COVID-19 but very few in the small portion of the Verde Valley that is in Coconino County.
This indicates that communities need to start thinking about what the world will look like as we consider reopening. Here in the Verde Valley, we are working with the Governor on appropriate timing for reopening to keep public health as the focal point while balancing the needs of the business community and our local workforce. To be clear, there is not a specific date or timeframe for reopening. But that time will come so it is appropriate to start planning now. It is also unclear whether the state will provide a uniform approach or if individual communities will need to tailor reopening efforts to our local circumstances. Either way, the Verde Valley communities are committed to collaborating, sharing information and coordinating reopening efforts to the greatest extent possible. We are specifically committed to:
- Continuing to prioritize the health of our residents.
- Reopening businesses thoughtfully and carefully as soon as it is safe.
- Developing and disseminating safety guidelines for businesses and individuals.
- Continuing collection and review of data to support a fact-based approach.
- Continuing collaboration between all partners.
As stay-at-home orders are lifted, we understand some will be worried that this decision is rushed, while others will criticize that restrictions should have been lifted sooner. These decisions are not easy and are made only after extensive review of information on all sides of the issue.
As we plan the reopening of our economy, it will be important that businesses review and establish best practices in social distancing, hygiene and disinfection. And as businesses reopen, citizens are encouraged to take precautions to protect themselves and others. We will achieve balance between protecting residents from COVID-19 and returning to business prosperity only if each of us do our part. It is critical that the most vulnerable populations continue to avoid public spaces, and that masks, frequent hand washing, strict hygiene practices and physical distancing are commonplace for the foreseeable future.
As it has been from the beginning, the response to COVID-19 will continue to evolve, and while no one can predict the future, we can take a careful and cautious approach moving forward. Each community will seek what approach is best for their unique needs, but know that the Verde Valley cities and towns are united in carefully reopening, once permitted by the Governor to do so.
Sincerely,
The following Verde Valley leaders:
Charlie German, Mayor, Camp Verde
Doug VonGausig, Mayor, Clarkdale
Tim Elinski, Mayor, Cottonwood
Christian Oliva del Rio, President/CEO, Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce
Alex Barber, Mayor, Jerome
Kevin Savage, President, Jerome Chamber of Commerce
Sandy Moriarty, Mayor, Sedona
Lonnie Lillie, Chairman, Board of Directors, Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau
Randy Garrison, Supervisor for District 3, Yavapai County
Tom Thurman, Supervisor for District 2, Yavapai County
Look to the following CDC, state and county resources for more information on COVID-19:
- Coconino County Health and Human Services COVID-19 hotline: 928-679-7300 and website.
- Yavapai County Health Services hotline: 928-442-5103 and website.
- Coconino County COVID-19 testing information.
- Statewide hotline on all COVID-19-related issues: dial 211.
- CDC website on coronavirus.
- Tips on coronavirus prevention and 10 ways to manage respiratory symptoms at home.
- Arizona Department of Health and Human Services information.
- CDC’s travel notices.
The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America.
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4 Comments
This statement tell us NOTHING except perhaps a heads up they are not going to open up on May 1 as promised and will continue to treat us as their slaves. There is no sympathy, no words of caring about the hundreds of businesses going out of business for good, nothing about the loss of work for employees who live paycheck to paycheck and can’t pay their rent, mortgage, car payments, medicines. It is a stone cold statement that gives no hope just another instruction to wash our hands.
This is pure dictatorship, we are not even a hot zone and they are depriving people of a means to earn a living and put food on the table and have to struggle under tremendous stress to teach school lessons to their children when many do not even have a computer. I hear many are so stressed they have given up. Their children are left to entertain themselves. I did not see the school districts on the list of consultants.
They are treating us like we are slaves of Governor Ducey as they said they will follow what he says. He was elected Governor not Emperor to deprive people their rights given by the Constitution to go to work, provide for their families and go to their places of worship. Sweden did no lockdown or social distancing and are in better shape than this country. These lockdowns are like something demonic and are showing us just who are the real tyrants.
Compliance or non-compliance?
Who really has the power?
Kindly,
Intbel.
As a business owner, and a resident of Sedona. I am of two thoughts.
One, it would be great to be back to normal but I do not believe that will happen for 8-12 months. We are nearing the heat of the summer when tourism traditionally drops off. Even if the entire country opened on May 1 many people will remain safely at home. The businesses in Sedona that are open are running their businesses responsibly given the fact that we have an older population in our town.
My second thought on this is that although businesses are all suffering, including my own, the residents of Arizona must think about our own health as well as the health of others visiting our state. I believe we should open our doors at the same pace as the adjoining states. This would be the most effective way to open slowly and in a measured fashion so we do not have to shut down again.
In summary, I believe that had the entire country sheltered in place and shut EVERYTHING down for 2 weeks and endured the horrific inconvenience, this would be over. However, many thought at that time that it would be an infringement on their personal rights, forgetting that their individual rights end where another individual’s rights begin. An inconvenience of two weeks, or, what we are facing now which is most likely 3 months of shut down and then a slow opening that could take another month or so.
Sadly, none of the comments praised or even thanked the people who are working to provide us with food, mail, garbage pickup, restaurants offering carry-out, and others, especially the health care workers.
While more could and should have been done in January and February, we are where we are now. Right now, respect for each other’s health and acts of kindness might make this Pandemic (an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population) a little easier on everyone.
I hope and pray that no more people come down with Covid-19 and offer my sincere sympathies for those who are ill or have a loved one that has been infected and my heart goes out to those who have had someone close them die from this virus.