Gov. Doug Ducey issues executive order detailing ‘essential services’2 min read

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey today issued an executive order clarifying businesses and operations deemed “essential” by the state and providing certainty to business owners, employees and families. The order is a proactive and administrative measure to ensure consistent guidance across the state.

“Arizona is focused on limiting the spread of COVID-19, while providing relief to families, individuals and businesses impacted,” said Governor Ducey. “This proactive order will ensure the state has one consistent, overarching policy that is based on CDC and public health guidance — allowing business owners and workers to responsibly plan ahead. We will continue to proceed with a calm and steady approach and act with urgency, while providing certainty whenever possible.”

The executive order outlines “essential services” to include:

■ Health care and public health operations, including hospitals, public health entities, distributors of personal protective equipment and biotechnology companies;

■ Human services operations, including those that provide services for the elderly, those with developmental disabilities, foster and adoption children and the homeless;

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■ Infrastructure operations, including food production, utility operators, construction and internet providers;

■ Government functions, including first responders, emergency management personnel, 911 operators, child protection staff, welfare providers and more;

■ Business operations, including grocery and medicine providers, outdoor recreation;

■ Organizations that provide charitable and social services, including religious and secular non-profit organizations and food banks;

■ Media organizations, including newspaper, television, radio and other media services; 

■ Gas stations and other transportation-related businesses;

■ Financial institutions, including banks and credit unions; 

■ Hardware and supply stores;

■ Critical trades, including plumbers, electricians, cleaning, sanitation, HVAC and security staff;

■ Mail, post, shipping and logistics; 

■ Education institutions, including public and private K-12 schools, universities and research entities; 

■ Laundry services; 

■ Restaurants for consumption off-premises; 

■ Supplies distributors that enable telework and work from home and those that supply essential businesses; 

■ Transportation, including airlines, taxis, and ride-sharing;

■ Home-based and care services, including for seniors and those with developmental disabilities;

■ Residential facilities and shelters, including those for children, seniors or at-risk populations;

■ Professional services, including legal, real estate and accounting services; 

■ Day care centers for employees exempted though the order;

■ Manufacturers, distribution and producers of supply chain-critical products;

■ Hotels and motels;

■ And funeral services. 

The order allows individuals and entities to utilize teleworking to complete essential services.

Read the Executive Order by Clicking Here

Christopher Fox Graham

Christopher Fox Graham is the managing editor of the Sedona Rock Rock News, The Camp Verde Journal and the Cottonwood Journal Extra. Hired by Larson Newspapers as a copy editor in 2004, he became assistant manager editor in October 2009 and managing editor in August 2013. Graham has won awards for editorials, investigative news reporting, headline writing, page design and community service from the Arizona Newspapers Association. Graham has also been a guest contributor in Editor & Publisher magazine and featured in the LA Times, New York Post and San Francisco Chronicle. He lectures on journalism, media law and the First Amendment and is a nationally recognized performance aka slam poet. In January 2025, the International Astronomical Union formally named asteroid 29722 Chrisgraham (1999 AQ23) in his honor at the behest of Lowell Observatory, citing him as "an American journalist and longtime managing editor of Sedona Red Rock News. He is a nationally-recognized slam poet who has written and performed multiple poems about Pluto and other space themes."

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