Some businesses openly defy Gov. Ducey's extended stay-at-home order

WICKENBURG, Ariz. - May 1 was originally supposed to be the day Gov. Doug Ducey's stay-at-home order ended. Now, the order will last for at least another 15 days.

Since 5:00 p.m. on March 31, Arizona has been under a stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Ducey. The order, officially titled as a "Stay home, Stay healthy, Stay connected" policy, asks Arizonans to limit their time away from their home, and also lists a number of activities that are exempt from the order.

Under the extended stay-at-home order, retailers not classified as an essential business may, starting on May 4, operate through delivery service and other means that do not entail in-store sales.

On May 8, non-essential retailers can sell items to customers in-store. Plans for a return to dine-in operations for restaurants have yet to be announced, as of Friday.

A lot of small businesses went ahead and reopened on Friday anyway. One business was located in Wickenburg.

Warnings by the police and the state health department that she was violating the stay-at-home order didn’t stop Horseshoe Cafe owner Debbie Thompson from serving breakfast Friday morning.

“They have just told me that I have to shut down. I am not. They will have to arrest me,” Thompson declared to the cheers and applause of several seated customers.

Though she was not arrested, Thompson later received a call from the state Department of Health Services telling her to cease and desist. But Thompson and other business owners in Wickenburg, a small town of 6,300 about 65 miles west of Phoenix decided Friday to re-open in defiance of Ducey’s mandate.

"It’s my business, and I’ve worked for for 17 years," said Thompson. "I’m not losing it over something like this."

Thompson, 65, said there is no way her restaurant can survive only doing carry out orders until Ducey’s order expires in two weeks. Normally, the Horseshoe Cafe takes in anywhere from $700-$900 in a day from tourists, seasonal residents and locals. In the last six weeks, it has been lucky to make $100 in a day, she said.

“I’m a widow trying to do my best here,” Thompson said as she served about eight patrons. “I believe our governor needs to get out and stay in the rural areas like we are. He needs to walk these streets and see the devastation it’s caused on these businesses.”

At nearby Trader J’s, a Southwest-themed gift shop, JoAnn Zimpher had masks and hand sanitizer ready for customers. The shop is owned by her son and the main source of income for both of them. Getting penalized for opening outweighed the risk of not being able to pay bills, she said.

“If they want to arrest a 72-year-old who’s trying to keep her livelihood, then be my guest,” Zimpher said. She said the decision to disregard the order doesn’t mean owners have a disregard for life.

An antique store owner, Amanda Wilson, was confused on when and how to reopen. Wilson said she was closed for the entire month of April.

"There’s plenty of room to walk around and social distance. I have a mask. Hand sanitizer. We’re cleaning everything. I mean, it’s time to open up," said Wilson.

Wilson, like Thompson and Zimpher, didn't wait to reopen either. Wilson is worried about the backlash and a possible citation, but she says it's time to get back to business.

"I’ve got employees to worry about," said Wilson. "I need to open my store."

Several businesses told FOX 10's Brian Webb that they have received a visit or call from authorities, after a complaint filed against them. None received citations or were arrested. Meanwhile, Phoenix Police officials say they will respond to any calls about violations of Gov. Ducey's executive order, and document the call appropriately.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. But it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death for some people, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.

“We’ve never asked the people that want to stay isolated to come out,” Zimpher said. “The people we have encountered are thanking us for opening. They said ‘It’s really good you take a stand.’”

Ducey on Wednesday extended his stay-at-home order through May 15 but said he will allow some nonessential retail businesses to reopen with health precautions. The Republican governor said there are signs the spread of the new virus has slowed in the state, but there’s no clear indication that deaths and new cases are trending down.

The state on Friday reported 10 new deaths from the coronavirus and 314 new cases. In all, there have been 330 confirmed deaths and nearly 8,000 cases.

Meanwhile, a death row inmate became the third in the state prison system to die from COVID-19. A federal public defender whose office represented Alfonso Raymond Salazar says he died Thursday at a hospital from virus-related complications. The Maricopa County medical examiner’s office hasn’t determined a cause of death.

Salazar was sentenced to death in the 1986 killing of 83-year-old Sara Kaplan in Pima County. Federal public defender Dale Baich said seven other death row prisoners have tested positive for COVID-19.

Terry Tang reported from Phoenix.

In order to protect yourself from a possible infection, the CDC recommends: 

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

MAP: Worldwide interactive Coronavirus case data

MAP: Arizona Coronavirus cases by zip code

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