Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix says deaths from COVID-19 have exceeded morgue capacity, and it's now using a refrigerated truck. A spokesman said a second truck is on standby at another location.

While the hospital has not reached 100% capacity of licensed beds and has not resorted to a triage protocol, Dr. Marjorie Bessel said we're seeing the effects of the Thanksgiving surge in COVID-19 cases. On Friday, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported that the state's ICU and inpatient capacities were both at 93%.

---Immediate implementation of a statewide mask mandate with provisions that allow local enforcement including fines on non-compliant businesses and individuals. While some municipalities have taken this action, a statewide mandate ensures consistency and strengthens compliance.

---A state-wide shelter-in-place ordinance beginning Tuesday, December 1stextending through Tuesday, December 22nd. This order would include closures of indoor dining and bars. If a shelter-in-place order were put in placetoday, we could hold the limit of new cases below 6200 cases/day which is twice the current rate. Without it, cases will quickly surpass this amount and cause even more disruption.

----To alleviate economic hardshipimposed by the shelter-in-placeorder,the state should pass emergency COVID-19 relief measuresfor small businesses and familiesaffected by closures.It should also undertakeadditional measures to alleviate food insecurity, to prevent evictions and foreclosures, and to protect accesstohealth services.

---If a state-wide mandate is not enacted, county and municipal leaders should be granted greater authority to enact their own shelter-in-place orders, business closures, and restrictions on public gatherings.