Pima County placed an unspecified number of employees on leave starting April 1 to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.
The decision came after Gov. Doug Ducey issued a stay at home order earlier this week.
“The spread of COVID-19 through Pima County is growing and is beginning to tax our health-care system,” said Pima County Chief Medical Officer Dr. Francisco Garcia. “This decision by Gov. Doug Ducey is necessary and will help slow the spread of this virus in Pima County and Arizona. We must protect our community and health-care system to keep it from becoming overwhelmed. Please, for your health and safety, and the health of your family and our community – stay home.”
In a statement released Tuesday, county officials said a number of nonessential employees will be asked to stay home on leave until the governor’s order is rescinded. These employees are defined by the county as those who do not need to be physically present to perform their job functions.
All employees who are designated as nonessential, and who are unable to telecommute, will be eligible to receive up to 80 hours of paid leave under the county’s pandemic leave policy. Eligible employees will also be able to apply for federal pandemic leave, which would cover an additional 80 hours for anyone who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, caring for someone in quarantine or caring for a school-age child.
Nonessential employees with children who are impacted by school closures are eligible for up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave through the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act. Under the law, eligible employees can use county and federal pandemic leave for the first 160 hours. The remaining eight weeks of leave offers two-thirds pay, but employees can use their own sick days or vacation time to cover the difference.
“These are some of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make in my more than four decades with Pima County,” said County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry. “But they are necessary. I, and every member of the Board of Supervisors, understand that these actions will cause financial hardships for some employees if this order lasts more than a few weeks. We are doing everything we can to assist our workers through this difficult time.”
The county’s essential employees will continue to work, though the county is allowing as many of them as possible to work from home. Huckelberry has said about 70% of the county’s 7,000 employees are considered essential.
The county defines essential employees as anyone whose function is critical for the effective operation of the county or who must be physically present to perform their jobs, or those employees who are involved in emergency response activities related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the Transportation and Wastewater departments, the Health Department and the Community Services, Employment and Training Department.
With many county employees still required to come to work every day, Huckelberry is also recommending that the Board of Supervisors approve a new wellness initiative that will provide temperature screening at all Pima County facilities. Under the initiative, any staff member or citizen entering a county building would have their temperature checked before being allowed in.
“The purpose of wellness screening is to provide assurance that the workplace is as safe as possible from the COVID-19 virus,” said Huckelberry in a March 31 memo. “These checks reduce the risk of having an employee or member of the public inadvertently spread COVID-19 and provides a measure of security for essential employees who will be required to work during this pandemic outbreak.”
The amendment will be voted on by the Board of Supervisors during an emergency meeting Thursday.
Photos for April 1: Tucson gets by during Coronavirus Pandemic
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A dinosaur statue over the doors of MATS Dojo at 5929 E. 22nd St., sports an athletic cup for a face mask in the second week of COVID-19 restrictions, March 31, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson, coronavirus
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A pair of protestors use their car to block west bound traffic on Silverlake to let other protestors make the left turn in into the Pima County Adult Detention Complex during a vehicle based demonstration by #FreeThemAll for the release of prisoners in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, March 31, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Raj Paudel hands a bag of food to a customer at Govinda's to-go-tent located at 711 E. Blacklidge Drive, on April 1, 2020.
Tucson, coronavirus
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The biggest hit to employment in Arizona came in the leisure and hospitality industry — hotels, bars, restaurants and places of amusement — which alone shed 5,200 jobs.
Tucson, coronavirus
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John Aldecoa tapes up a banner outside his restaurant, Brother John's, as he and his staff get ready to serve again after being closed since the COVID-19 restrictions were put in place two weeks ago, April 1, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Michael Olivas, right, helps Arnold Vizcaino, City of Tucson Parks and Recreation employees, lock up swings at Gene C. Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, in Tucson, Ariz., on April 1, 2020. The City of Tucson Parks and Recreation employees are going around to all Tucson parks to close all ramadas, gazebos, playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment, all sports courts and fields, horseshoe pits and splash pads due Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Tucson, coronavirus
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Caution tape across an entrance on a playground at Gene C. Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, in Tucson, Ariz., on April 1, 2020. City of Tucson Parks and Recreation employees are closing all ramadas, gazebos, playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment, sports courts and more due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Tucson, coronavirus
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A "CLOSED' sign and caution tape is placed around a ramada at Gene C. Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, in Tucson, Ariz., on April 1, 2020. The City of Tucson Parks and Recreation employees are going around to all Tucson parks to close all ramadas, gazebos, playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment, all sports courts and fields, horseshoe pits and splash pads due Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Tucson, coronavirus
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Vanessa Richards, 18, left, and Ella Dotson, 17, adjust their mortar boards and hair in the window of a building along Scott Ave. in downtown Tucson on March 31, 2020. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic the rest of the school year has been canceled. Richards and Dotson are seniors at Marana High School and will not have a formal graduation ceremony. The pair came to downtown to get photos of themselves in their caps and gowns.
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Vanessa Richards, 18, left, and Ella Dotson, 17, take a selfie as their friend, Camilla Hamilton, 17, gets her photo taken by Vanessa’s mother, Chrissi, along Scott Ave. in downtown Tucson on March 31, 2020. Due to the coronavirus, the rest of the school year has been canceled. The Marana High School seniors went downtown to get photos of themselves in their caps and gowns.
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Georgia Goodwin, volunteer, sews masks for hospital workers and the community at Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum, 5701 E. Speedway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 30, 2020. Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum have made roughly 2,000 masks, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), in one week for local hospitals in Southern Arizona.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Along with other volunteers and employees, Paula Sanford, center, volunteer, sews masks for hospital workers and the community at Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum, 5701 E. Speedway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 30, 2020. Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum have made roughly 2,000 masks, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), in one week for local hospitals in Southern Arizona.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Andy Cathey, Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum employee, sews masks for hospital workers and the community at Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum, 5701 E. Speedway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 30, 2020. Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum have made roughly 2,000 masks, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), in one week for local hospitals in Southern Arizona.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Andy Cathey, Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum employee, sews masks for hospital workers and the community at Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum, 5701 E. Speedway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 30, 2020. Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum have made roughly 2,000 masks, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), in one week for local hospitals in Southern Arizona.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Rudy Arriaga, far left, and his mother, Dale, chat with Damian Velez, far right, general manager and Joseph Ashbacher before leaving with their takeout order at Bianchi's Italian Restaurant, 3640 W. Tangerine Road, in Marana, Ariz. on March 30, 2020. The Marana location will closed due to a drop in business.
Tucson, coronavirus
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A man wearing personal protective equipment works out at FitCore at Morris K Udall Park, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Rd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 29, 2020.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Ruby Boulet-Stephenson waters the family's new backyard garden, on March 27, 2020.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Roccos Little Chicago Pizzeria sports the phrase "Eat the Rich" on its marquee, on March 31, 2020. The local pizza spot is currently closed due to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19.)
Tucson, coronavirus
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A pedestrian crosses Church Avenue near the Historic Pima County Courthouse in a nearly-empty downtown Tucson during the coronavirus pandemic in spring 2020.
Tucson, coronavirus
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A bank customer wears gloves while at a drive up ATM at Chase Bank, 8701 E. Broadway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 29, 2020.
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While traveling through Tucson, Canadians Lauri Buchanan and her husband Brian Buchanan, left, eat lunch with their friends Rhonda McDonald and her husband Pat McDonald, right, from Wyoming, outside of Whataburger, 6504 E. 22nd St., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 30, 2020. Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan and Mr. and Mrs. McDonald were eating outside due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Tucson, coronavirus
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David Cardinal, a sales associate at The Hub, works with a customer at the gun store located at 1400 S Alvernon Way, on March 28, 2020. The store saw an increase in customers during the last few weeks.
Tucson, coronavirus
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An employee at The Hub, a gun store located at 1400 S Alvernon Way, works with a customer on March 28, 2020. The store saw an increase in customers during the last few weeks.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Cassie Phelps, food service employee for Tucson Unified School District, hands two students lunches and breakfast at Harold Steel Elementary School, 700 S. Sarnoff Dr., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 31, 2020. TUSD is offering lunches and breakfast for students due to schools being canceled because of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Tucson, coronavirus
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Jolene Luquin, teaching assistant for Tucson Unified School District, organizes educational packets for a parent at Harold Steel Elementary School, 700 S. Sarnoff Dr., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 31, 2020. The educational packets, for grades K-12, include the curriculum for all classes from science to math to history and others. It allows the students, parents and teachers to keep learning despite not being in the classroom, according to Karla Escamilla, TUSD public information officer. TUSD plans to have most of the paperwork online in the next couple of weeks, said Escamilla, as well as issue laptops to students who don't have access to a computer. TUSD is issuing these packets and online school due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Tucson, coronavirus
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After more than a week in isolation, Tami and Tedd Handy get the chance to dance as Mama Coal, Carra Stasney and Tim O'Connor give a street concert on Placita de Zacatal in the Casas Adobes neighborhood, Saturday, March 28, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
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Mama Coal, Carra Stasney and Tim O'Connor take to the great outdoors along Moonshroud Dr., in Catalina Shadows, Saturday, March 28, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
