For the second day in a row, Arizona’s governor made time for high profile officials, including the President, but remained silent on COVID-19 as hospitalizations in the state continue to go up and are closer to surge capacity.
On Tuesday, Doug Ducey made time for President Donald Trump - appearing with him at the border wall, getting off Air Force One, and attending a rally.
Then on Wednesday, Governor Ducey introduced National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien as he talked in Arizona about China.
Ducey making time for politics, but no time to address Arizonans on the COVID-19 pandemic.
He did however speak briefly about the pandemic during an introduction to O’Brien taking the stage, “this COVID-19 pandemic once again underscores the deep ties between national security, our national manufacturing supply chain and public health and safety, in times of crisis, Americans want to know we have the resources, the means to overcome any challenge and defeat any foe.”
Reporters at the event requested to speak with the governor following the O’Brien’s briefing on China.
However, at the end of the meeting, the governor went out a side door with his security to leave immediately.
ABC15 tried to go after the governor — asking him to talk to us about COVID-19, but he got in his vehicle and took off.
DODGING QUESTIONS: @dougducey went out a side door after a speech by National Security Advisor in Arizona.
— Nicole Grigg (@NicoleSGrigg) June 24, 2020
Despite multiple reporters asking his staff to stay and answer a few questions.
He snuck out the side door.
He can make time for politics, but not for Arizonans. pic.twitter.com/N2it5CWlXN
Although the governor didn’t publicly address COVID-19, his office did send out a press release on Wednesday addressing concerns over a lack of testing.
The release saying the state is working with healthcare and federal partners to expand testing.
“We know there is a high demand for testing in Arizona, and our public health team is working tirelessly with health care partners and private testing labs to develop new strategies to alleviate the wait times for testing and results,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “We’re grateful for the support and advocacy of our health care community and our federal partners in delivering for Arizonans,” the release stated.
The governor’s office went on to reiterate that since April, diagnostic testing has increased nearly 250%.
However, on Wednesday, the state reported 7,200 less PCR tests than the day before.
The release went on to say, along with providing funding to two private labs, the state has been able to obtain an additional Roche testing machine.
The release also said ADHS was able to provide 10,000 specimen collection kits to Sonora Quest Laboratories.
