PHOENIX – Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Wednesday urged all Arizona people to “please get the vaccine (COVID-19).”
“We need Arizona people to step up the vaccine if we want to stop the spread of this virus. It’s our best chance to get back to normal,” he said during a press conference Wednesday afternoon at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. one of the state’s vaccine distribution sites.
See our full press conference coverage in the player below.
Governor Ducey also repeatedly stressed that the main cause of the increase in COVID-19 positive cases in the state was due to large home meetings. Before the holidays, he urged Arizonaers to limit their meetings and travel, to organize meetings outside as much as possible, or to connect virtually with loved ones.
“I can’t stress this enough. The fight against this pandemic is not over. Not even less,” he said. “I need Arizonans to continue to do their part to curb the spread of this virus. That means, of course, following public health guidelines, wearing a mask, washing hands, physically distancing oneself, and limiting time. with the most vulnerable. “
To date, there have been 429,219 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Arizona and 7,530 deaths, according to the ADHS online data board. There has been a significant increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.
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Hospitals across the state have reported an increase in COVID-19 patients and ICU beds in use, as well as a lack of nurses to staff them.
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At the press conference, Governor Ducey also announced ten people would be among the first to receive the vaccine Wednesday evening at a vaccine distribution point in Phoenix. This includes nurses, doctors, firefighters and a member of the Arizona National Guard. It also included Dr. Cara Christ, the director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, and someone who has been the face of state mitigation efforts.
“I will get the vaccine when it comes to me,” said Governor Ducey, who noted that he was not in the first category determined to receive the vaccine. “When it touches me, the sleeve will roll up and be administered.”
Governor Ducey also announced that vaccine distribution sites were expected to be installed and available in all 15 counties over the next week. He said vaccines would begin to be administered at nursing facilities by the end of the month.
He also announced that an additional $ 15 million will be allocated to the ADHS emergency fund.
The Ducey government’s Wednesday visit to the distribution point comes two days after the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Maricopa County.
Since their arrival, front-line workers and veterans have been among the first Arizonans to receive the vaccine.
Maricopa County health officials have released a potential plan for the phased distribution of the vaccine in the valley, and the general population is scheduled to receive it in the spring of 2021.