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PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey wants federal dollars and an expanded role for the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ National Guard, saying the citizens, economy and infrastructure of the state have been “catastrophically affected†by COVID-19.
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“The State of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ resources are being overwhelmed and additional federal funding is critical,†Ducey wrote in a letter Friday to Defense Secretary Mark Esper. “This event has caused and continues to cause widespread effects (both known and unknown).â€
The governor’s letter went out the same day that he and Maj. Gen. Michael McGuire had a press conference to explain the role that Guard troops, called out by Ducey the day before, would play.
Both emphasized that they were there for logistical support, largely to help restock the shelves of grocery stores that had been stripped bare of many items by people who were hoarding.
“We can do big-scale logistics,†said McGuire, the adjutant general of the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ National Guard. He said that particularly means moving large quantities of food “that final mile†between warehouses and grocery stores.
What was not mentioned at the time was that Ducey was telling Esper that he foresees the need for up to 5,500 troops and an even larger role for the Guard, including:
- Providing hazmat protective equipment to hospitals that now have “inadequate and uni-sized protective gear.â€
- Assembly and preparation of field hospitals to treat those with non-COVID-19 conditions to allow hospitals to focus on those with the novel coronavirus.
- Provide a reserve of medical providers.
But Ducey said it may not stop there, saying troops could provide “additional assistance (that) may also include future support to local law enforcement.â€
The governor said, though, duties would include those “not impeded by posse comitatus.â€
That 1878 law prohibits the use of the military to enforce the law or suppress civil disorder unless expressly ordered to do so by the president. But the governor said that those limitations do not apply when Guard troops are “under state command and control.â€
Ducey did not explain what role he wants them to play but only that they are needed — and the federal government should come up with some cash.
“The citizens, economy and infrastructure of the state of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ catastrophically affected by COVID-19 ultimately affects the citizens, economy and infrastructure of the nation,†the governor wrote. And he said that without federal funding “ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ will be incapable of quelling the risk to the state and nation.â€
Gubernatorial press aide Patrick Ptak denied late Sunday that his boss was withholding information from the public about conditions in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ or the role Ducey wants the Guard to play.
“This letter is intended to secure an offset from the federal government for National Guard activity here in the state,†he said.
And Ptak denied that his boss is either not telling the whole story to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ residents or to the Pentagon, whose dollars he is seeking.
“We’ve been straightforward about what we expect them to do,†he said, calling the letter and the verbiage “something we have to do†to draw down federal dollars.
“The governor has been very transparent about ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s COVID-19 response, including daily press briefings last week,†Ptak said.
When Ducey wrote the letter to Esper, he told the Pentagon chief that ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ had 44 confirmed cases and no known deaths.
As of Sunday afternoon that number had reached 152 with two deaths.
Photos for March 20: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ gets by during coronavirus pandemic
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥-area, Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Marina Cornelius, owner of Floor Polish Dance + Fitness, teaches her Cardio Party-o class via Periscope to her students on March 20, 2020. Cornelius says this is the first time she's trying to livestream classes and is learning as she goes.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥-area, Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Marina Cornelius, owner of Floor Polish Dance + Fitness, talks to her students via Periscope before teaching her Cardio Party-O class on March 20, 2020. Cornelius says this is the first time she's trying to livestream classes and is learning as she goes.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus pandemic

A group of friends from St. Louis enjoy their lunch along Sentinel Peak after a 40-mile bike ride on March 20, 2020. The cycling friends planned their trip to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ months ago and decided to keep their vacation plans. They arrived on March 1st and leave this weekend. For the past three weeks they've been cycling through Saguaro National Park, up Mt. Lemmon, Kitt Peak and The Loop. On Friday they got takeout from Seis Kitchen and their bicycle touring company set up tables and chairs for them. They felt they self-quaratined with just the six of them during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus pandemic

Ricardo and Vera Escalante say they're addicted to Pat's Chili Dogs and needed to get their fix on March 20, 2020. The pair got their order to go since bars and restaurants are barred from having customers in their facilities due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and decided to enjoy their lunch at the top of Sentinel Peak.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus pandemic

Khristina Hernandez puts on disposable gloves before cleaning a room at Hotel McCoy located at 720 W Silverlake Road, on March 19, 2020.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus pandemic

Lacy Tritz prepares an order at the Downtown Dispensary located at 221 E 6th Street, on March 20, 2020. Employees are now required to wear masks at the dispensary and customers will now order at the front desk or online.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus pandemic

A line grows outside the doors to Trader Joe's at Swan and Grant as an employee limits customers entering the store to one-out one-in, March 20, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus pandemic

Banner UMC’s drive up system is for emergency room triage for a variety of illnesses and is not for random testing for COVID-19. It has been put in place to keep crowds from the ER and protect the health of patients and staff.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus pandemic

Banner UMC’s drive up system is for emergency room triage for a variety of illnesses and is not for random testing for COVID-19. It has been put in place to keep crowds from the ER and protect the health of patients and staff.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus pandemic

Banner UMC’s drive up system is for emergency room triage for a variety of illnesses and is not for random testing for COVID-19. It has been put in place to keep crowds from the ER and protect the health of patients and staff.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus pandemic

Cazandra Zaragoza, center, reacts to finding out her placement for her medical residency during Match Day on March 20, 2020. Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the annual Match Day event at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ was canceled. Students received an email informing them of their placement. Zaragoza was surrounded by friends and family including her husband, Joseph Llanes, right, and her 2 sons, Ezra Zaragoza-Llanes, 7, far left and Eleazar, 10, when she found out her placement is family medicine in San Francisco. Zaragoza is one of the recipients of the Primary Care Physicians Scholarship. The scholarship paid for her last year of medical school. As part of the scholarship, Zaragoza will return to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and work in an underserved or rural area.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus pandemic

Wade Biehl, manager at Five Points Market & Restaurant, 756 S. Stone Ave., brings a takeout order to a customer outside of the restaurant on March 20, 2020. Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), bars and restaurants have been ordered to only offer takeout options to customers. Biehl said customers are not allowed inside the restaurant and can only call or text in their orders to limit contact with staff.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus pandemic

Julie Swartzentruber, a server, tells a customer over the phone their dessert options at Five Points Market & Restaurant, 756 S. Stone Ave., on March 20, 2020. Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), bars and restaurants have been ordered to only offer takeout options to customers. Customers are not allowed inside the restaurant and can only call or text in their orders to limit contact with staff.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus pandemic

A car turns onto a nearly empty 4th Avenue, on March 20, 2020.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus pandemic

Sarah Lang views responses from her fifth-grade students on Google classroom at Centennial Elementary School in the Flowing Wells School District, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on March 20, 2020.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus pandemic

Sarah Lang, teacher at Centennial Elementary School in the Flowing Wells School District, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, talks to parents picking up breakfast for their kids on March 20, 2020.
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