PHOENIX – On Wednesday, the Arizona Department of Health Services announced its “commitment to strict enforcement of requirements outlined for businesses paused by Executive Orders 2020-43 and 2020-52.” To aid that effort, the Department is calling on residents to snitch on any business that runs afoul of the requirements.
Those requirements fall inline with the CDC’s suggestions which have been described by some physicians as “unscientific.”
The request to report is popular with some Arizonans:
Well this is long overdue. https://t.co/QroRLjKSSx
— BrahmResnik (@brahmresnik) August 27, 2020
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) says that for businesses to remain open, “compliance with public health requirements is critical,” and the public has a role to play.
From ADHS:
If you believe a business isn’t following these requirements, which were established for the safety of customers, employees, and the broader public, ADHS encourages you to share your concerns so local and state officials can follow up as needed,” advises the Department.
Community members who notice a business not complying with the requirements set forth by ADHS can file a complaint with the following entities:
- Local law enforcement
- County health departments
- ADHS
- Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control
Complaints will be investigated by the local or state health department, depending upon jurisdiction. There are multiple ways to file a complaint with ADHS, including:
- Submit a complaint online at www.azhealth.gov/complianceCOVID19
- Starting tomorrow, Aug. 27, call our COVID-19 Compliance Hotline at 1-844-410-2157
Businesses that are allowed to resume operations safely when a county reaches the moderate transmission stage on the ADHS Business Dashboard , as is expected to occur Thursday for additional counties, include indoor gyms and fitness centers, indoor theaters, waterparks and tubing, and bars and nightclubs providing dine-in services.
Industry-specific requirements can be found on the ADHS Workplace and Community Locations webpage . Each business that attests to the requirements must post the completed attestation where customers can see it. A list of businesses that have completed attestations can be found here .
While it’s promising news that more counties are progressing to the next stage of safely resuming business operations, Arizonans need to be vigilant and continue practicing proven COVID-19 prevention strategies . It is important to continue wearing masks when in public, physically distance, and stay home when sick. These smart decisions will help keep Arizonans healthy and safe and help us continue to contain the spread of COVID-19.
