The National Guard was activated to assist grocery stores and food banks in restocking shelves to meet demand.
On April 4, President Trump approved Major Disaster Declaration for Arizona to provide the state with expanded mental health care, supplement the efforts of tribal health care workers, provide grants to reduce the risk of loss of life or property during future emergencies, make available legal assistance to low-income Arizonans, expand food assistance and other services to low-income households impacted by COVID-19.
On March 30, Governor Ducey announced an initial $6.7 million in funding to support Arizona food banks, nutrition programs and programs serving the homeless to strengthen food security through investment in Arizona food banks.
Additionally, grocery stores across the state have announced special shopping hours for seniors beginning on Wednesday, March 18. Bashas, Food City and AJ's Fine Foods will open from 5 a.m. - 6 a.m. on Wednesdays for anyone age 65 and older to shop. Fry’s is opening its doors for those who are 60 or older from 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Safeway and Albertsons will open from 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for older adults and those with underlying health concerns. Target is dedicating its first hour of ever Wednesday to elderly guests and guests who have underlying health concerns. Walmart will open its stores an hour early on Tuesdays for those ages 60 and older. Walgreens will open Tuesdays from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. for those 55+ only. Seniors will be eligible for 30% discounts on select items. Los Altos Ranch Market in Phoenix is opening its stores from 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. for senior citizens as well as first responders. Whole Foods Market will open its stores to customers 60 or older one hour before its official store hours. Find your stores local hours here. Big Lots will reserve its first hour of operations, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m., for senior citizens and vulnerable shoppers. Dollar General is encouraging shoppers to make its first hour of operations dedicated to senior shoppers. Trader Joe’s is dedicating 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. for senior customers to shop by creating an additional line outside the front door specifically for them at the specialty grocer to expedite their shopping.
Mail services including FedEx and USPS report they will continue delivery services, with precautionary measures in place for the safety of their drivers.
Truck drivers move 70 percent of the nation’s goods by weight, and are responsible for supplying stores and hospitals with necessary items. To keep up with demand, for the first time in history, hours-of-service laws were suspended at the federal level. The laws, which have been in place since 1938, mandate how many hours a truck driver may work. As of March 13, 2020 truck drivers hauling loads that support healthcare workers and access to food are exempt from the HOS laws.
On March 19th, Governor Doug Ducey issued an Executive Order to delay expiration dates on the licenses of commercial vehicle drivers, ensuring drivers stay on the road and not in-line at MVDs.
