WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema held a virtual roundtable with Arizona public health leaders on Arizona’s coronavirus response and the need to ensure the safety of all Arizonans.
“For up-to-date coronavirus information, Arizonans and all Americans should listen to government scientists and specialists; they are experts and will help you stay safe, healthy, and calm. I will continue to fight in Congress for increased financial support to help families and businesses struggling. If we take action now—including canceling gatherings of over 10 people and implementing social distancing—we can save lives, make this difficult time as short as possible, and get through it together,” said Sinema.
Sinema discussed Arizona’s coronavirus response and needs with leaders from the city of Phoenix, Valleywise Health, the Phoenix VA Medical Center, LeadingAge, the Arizona Health Care Association, AARP, the Arizona Hospital & HealthCare, the Health System Alliance of Arizona, the Arizona Public Health Association, the Arizona Medical Association, the Arizona Nurses Association, the Maricopa County Public Health Department, the Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers, and others. Sinema and health leaders discussed the need to ramp up coronavirus testing in the state, the importance of ensuring Arizona hospitals and health centers have proper resources, how to protect Arizona seniors, and how to protect Arizona small businesses.
Sinema voted for the congressionally-approved $7.8 billion package to address the coronavirus, providing necessary funding to keep families, seniors, and other vulnerable populations safe. Sinema is now working with her Senate colleagues to pass another package to deliver relief to Arizona families and small businesses. This package is focused on making testing more widely available, and it includes provisions similar to legislation Sinema introduced with Republican Senator Deb Fischer ensuring respirators used by patients and health workers have liability coverage and are available for Arizona communities.
Sinema wrote to Vice President Pence and the White House Task Force about the government’s need to implement a single online webform that would allow the CDC to directly collect information from travelers and provide a more complete, accurate, and timely collection of data. Sinema also wrote VA about steps it’s taking to protect the health of veterans and staff. Sinema also wrote to the Vice President to ensure tribal leaders have the resources they need through the Indian Health Service, tribal health departments, and urban Indian health programs to keep their communities safe.
Sinema has also added a resources page to her website, www.sinema.senate.gov, for Arizonans looking for the latest information on coronavirus.
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