Return Smarter. Return Stronger.
The state of Arizona is working hard to keep Arizonans safe and healthy while slowing the spread of COVID-19. The Arizona Commerce Authority is here to continue offering tools and resources for families, workers and businesses to return stronger.
STEP-BY-STEP-PLAN

Authorized hospitals and outpatient centers can resume elective surgeries
Guidance includes:
Lifted restrictions on conducting elective surgeries for hospitals, health care facilities and providers that meet certain preparedness criteria
Retail may operate through curbside, delivery and by-appointment
Guidance includes:
Voluntary reopening and physical distancing measures for staff
Barbers and cosmetologists can resume appointment-based services. Retail businesses may fully reopen
Guidance includes:
Continuing appointment-based service, cloth face coverings for employees and visitors, and closed fitting rooms at clothing stores
Restaurants and coffee shops may resume dine-in service
Guidance includes:
Limiting parties to more than 10, limiting areas conducive to congregating and continuing to provide delivery or curbside service
Pools, gyms and spas may resume operations
Guidance includes:
Wearing gloves during spa treatments, discouraging use of shared items and increasing routine sanitation protocols
Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected order expires
Arizona’s Stay At Home order ends and is replaced with new data-driven guidance for the next stage of economic recovery.
Stay Healthy, Return Smarter, Return Stronger order goes into effect
The Executive Order aligns with White House gating criteria and guides the reopening of businesses with a data-driven, phased approach. The order guides businesses through the next stage of reinvigorating Arizona’s economy with enhanced physical distancing and safety measures in place.
In addition, major league sports may have a limited reopening without fans.
Organized youth activities may resume
Guidance includes:
Sanitizing game equipment before and after use, implementing symptom screening for facilitators and participants, and following CDC guidance for physical distancing of parents and attendees
Businesses shall update and enforce written policies that adopt federal and state guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19
Guidance for all businesses includes:
Businesses shall develop, establish, implement and enforce policies that adopt federal and state guidance including hygiene and sanitation practices, physical distancing requirements, requiring face coverings when physical distancing is not feasible and symptom screening for employees.
Guidance for restaurants and bars providing dine-in services includes:
Enforcing physical distancing of at least six feet between customers, continuing to provide options for curbside pickup or delivery, sanitizing customers areas after each sitting, and requiring all servers, host staff and employees that interact with customers to wear cloth masks.
Paused operations of bars, gyms, movie theaters, waterparks, tubing
Effective at 8 p.m. on June 29, 2020, bars, gyms, movie theaters, waterparks and tubing must pause operations with a targeted reopening date in one month. In order to reopen, the establishments must attest to adhere to all public health regulations and post it for the public to see.
Indoor and outdoor public events and gatherings limited to 50 people, pools limited to 10 people
The Department of Liquor Licenses and Control shall cease issuing special event licenses. Cities, towns and counties have the authority to approve larger events, but only if adequate safety precautions are implemented, including physical distancing measures.
Groups of more than 10 are prohibited from congregating together in or near the municipal, hotel and motel public pools.
Restaurants must limit indoor seating capacity to less than 50% of the fire code limit
Governor Doug Ducey announced additional actions to contain the spread of COVID-19, with the signing of an Executive Order that requires restaurants with indoor seating to operate at less than 50 percent capacity.
Extended paused operations of bars, gyms, movie theaters, water parks, tubing
Governor Ducey extended an executive order pausing operations on gyms, bars, nightclubs, movie theaters, water parks and tubing. The order also continues to prohibit large public events and enables local law enforcement to take immediate enforcement action to ensure compliance with the order. This extension will be reviewed for repeal or revision every two weeks.
Arizona Department Of Health Services (ADHS) released public health recommendations for the eventual safe reopening of paused businesses in the state of Arizona
The ADHS guidelines apply to bars, gyms, movie theaters, water parks and tubing operators, all of which had paused operations due to the Executive Order “Pausing of Arizona’s Reopening.” The reopening guides for each of these industries are based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, White House Coronavirus Task Force metrics, and expert advice from the medical and public health community. Following benchmarks classified into minimal, moderate, and substantial transmission categories as defined by the CDC, businesses may reopen safely.
Apache, Cochise, Coconino, La Paz, Maricopa, Navajo, Pima and Yavapai counties meet the Moderate Transmission level, indicating indoor gyms, indoor theaters, water parks and tubing, and bars providing dine-in services may attest to reopen
In order to reopen, businesses must attest to comply with all the requirements according to the business type. Upon completion and submission of the attestation, businesses may reopen consistent with the ADHS COVID-19 Guidance for Businesses.
The Arizona Department of Health Services released official guidance for Arizonans to celebrate Thanksgiving safely and responsibly.
The guidance directs Arizonans to celebrate outside, minimize guests, wear masks, wash hands frequently and more.
Restaurants may extend premises for outdoor dining; additional guidelines for public events with 50+
Restaurants
Governor Doug Ducey issued an executive order easing red tape on outdoor dining, allowing restaurants to temporarily extend their premises after approval from the local governing body.
Events with 50+ people
By executive order, public events of more than 50 people may only be approved by local cities, towns or counties if event safety precautions are consistent with guidance issued by both the CDC and ADHS. If the event is approved, it must be publicly posted alongside its mitigation efforts.
Business occupancy and percentage limitations expire; Spring Training may operate with an approved safety plan
By Executive Order, capacity limits for businesses, implemented by previous Executive Orders ADHS Emergency Measure and ADHS COVID-19 Guidance for Businesses are rescinded. All businesses in the state must continue to implement, use and follow policies based on guidance form the CDC, OSHA and ADHS.
Spring Training and Major League Sports may operate upon submission and approval of a plan to ADHS that demonstrates implementation of safety precautions and physical distancing.
As Arizona met important public health benchmarks, Governor Ducey provided updates to the state’s COVID-19 measures for events, businesses and local ordinances.
Events with 50+ people
Events with more than 50 people will no longer require the approval of local governments, but are encouraged to continue to follow safe practices and CDC recommendations.
Businesses & bars
All business guidance will transition from requirements to recommendations. Businesses are still equipped with the ability to continue to require masks and social distancing.
Bars may resume regular operations, in addition to the previously announced “dine-in” capacity.
Elective surgery restrictions are eased
Governor Ducey rescinded three Executive Orders, allowing hospitals the flexibility to conduct elective surgeries
Governor Ducey announced Arizona’s plan to support Arizonans getting back to work and fill thousands of jobs across the state.
The package includes provisions that offer child care assistance, support for individuals to acquire a GED or community college credits, return to work bonuses and more.
Governor Ducey signed legislation to allow bars, liquor stores and restaurants to sell cocktails to-go, expanding opportunities for businesses.
Governor Ducey has led smart policies to mitigate financial consequences of the pandemic, one of which was to issue an Executive Order in March 2020 restricting enforcement of regulations that prohibit sale and delivery of alcoholic beverages with the purchase of food. Now, following the success of that policy, restaurants and bars are now be able to sell to-go beverages.
Governor Doug Ducey rescinded 25 Executive Orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic following action by the Arizona Legislature to codify into law many of the policies
To protect Arizonans from excessive mandates, many of the policies enacted by Governor Ducey throughout the pandemic were codified into law by the Arizona Legislature. The governor’s March 11, 2020 emergency declaration remains in place.
Review the release and action below for each rescinded Executive Order.
CDC extends eviction moratorium
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended the eviction moratorium, which will expire on October 3, 2021. The CDC stated the moratorium is an effective public health measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Homeowner Assistance Fund Established
Governor Ducey and the Arizona Department of Housing launched the Homeowner Assistance Program to help keep low-income homeowners in their homes.
Discover resources available for your small business, including guidance on how to benefit from the CARES Act.
Under the leadership of Governor Ducey, the Arizona Commerce Authority launched the Return Stronger Upskilling website in partnership with ARIZONA@WORK. Workers can virtually connect with a career counselor and explore training opportunities at no cost.
Governor Ducey launched the Arizona Together initiative to support Arizonans during the COVID-19 outbreak, connecting individuals and businesses to resources, raising money for community organizations and providing information on volunteer opportunities.
Paycheck Protection Program loan borrowers are eligible for loan forgiveness. The ACA’s forgiveness calculator assists small businesses in the loan process by estimating loan amounts and eligible forgiveness.
Our small business team is at the ready to answer your questions and provide support. Connect with our team of small business experts today.

Prepare > Plan > Grow
The Arizona Commerce Authority – supported by a dynamic group of community partners — has launched a statewide initiative to help Arizona’s small businesses prepare for success, plan for the future, and grow into thriving businesses. Through virtual webinars and hands-on workshops, local business leaders and subject matter experts will provide real-time support and available resources across Arizona.
VIEW BOOT CAMP WEBINARS
STAY INFORMED

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