Tomorrow morning, March 19, 2020, the Pima County Board of Supervisors meets to vote on a special resolution declaring a State of Emergency.  This resolution will close bars, gyms, and other venues of public gathering.  It will also end sit down dining in restaurants, coffee shops, and food courts. The goal is to slow the spread of COVID-19.

If the measure passes, County Supervisor Chuck Huckleberry would be authorized to enact the emergency shut down. Closures would begin at 8pm on Thursday and continue until at least March 31, 2020.

As I wrote about before, the authority for this action is comes from ARS 26-311, which gives the board of supervisors power to close businesses in, among other situations, a natural calamity.    

The Pima County resolution would impact only unincorporated areas of Pima County.  It would not have effect in Marana, Oro Valley, or South Tucson.  Those communities are considering similar action, but have not yet gone as far as Pima County proposes.  Of course, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero previously acted to close public places earlier in the week.  Pima County looks to mirror her move.

You can read the County's proposed declaration by clicking the link below.