Sonora, Arizona’s neighbor to the south, has declared a health emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gov. Claudia Pavlovich made the announcement in a video released Wednesday and said measures would be rolled out over the next 72 hours. Among them is calling for some business activity to cease so workers can stay home.
But “essential activities” necessary to guarantee the supply of food, medicine, medical equipment, water, electricity, fuel and other essentials will continue, the governor said.
Programs for vulnerable populations also will also be established.
The state government said those workers who are sent home will keep jobs and pay. As of Wednesday, there were eight confirmed cases in Sonora.
Fronteras Desk is a KJZZ project covering important stories in an expanse stretching from Northern Arizona deep into northwestern Mexico.