Arizona’s governor announced a “one-month pause” on certain businesses Monday in response to surging coronavirus cases in the state.
Republican Gov. Doug Ducey ordered bars, nightclubs, gyms, movie theaters and water parks to close again for at least 30 days starting Monday night.
A ban on gatherings of more than 50 people was also reestablished.
“We can’t be under any illusion that this virus is going to go away on its own,” Ducey said.
The Grand Canyon State had emerged from its stay-at-home order in mid-May, but COVID-19 infections have since begun skyrocketing.
A record 3,858 new cases were reported on Sunday, the most in a single day for the state. Hospitals across the state were at 84 percent capacity on Sunday.
Though many districts planned to start the school year in late July or early August, Ducey ordered that public schools should delay until at least Aug. 17.
The governor urged Arizonans to keep their distance from one another in public, but did not issue a statewide order requiring people to wear masks.
The about-face came as three other states — Florida, California and Texas — have also rolled back reopenings amid an increase in cases.
With Post wires
