Arizona governor issues executive order limiting indoor dining to 50 percent

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) said Thursday he is issuing an executive order limiting indoor dining capacity to 50 percent capacity to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. 

“The objective here is if you are going to eat inside to make sure there are as few people as possible inside that establishment,” Ducey said at a Thursday press conference. 

Ducey said he made the order in consultation with the restaurant industry. 

The decision comes as Arizona experiences a surge in coronavirus cases. Ducey said there was a “rapid rise” in coronavirus cases in June, after the state lifted its stay at home order in mid-May. 

At the end of June, Ducey shut bars and gyms for at least 30 days to mitigate the spread of the virus. Since shutting such businesses, the governor said the number of new cases has flattened to a plateau. 

“We’re seeing some progress in Arizona, we need to see more. We simply can’t let up,” the governor added. 

He also encouraged residents to stay at home when possible.

“This is a good excuse to, whatever series your friends have talked about on Netflix, to watch it or rewatch it or pick up your reading habit again, any excuse you can find to stay home,” he said. 

He also encouraged residents to maintain physical distance when possible and to wear face coverings. The governor last month said he would allow local governments to mandate that people wear face masks in public, but he has not issued a statewide face covering requirement. 

Many state and local leaders have issued orders requiring people to wear face masks when in public amid rising coronavirus cases.