Lake Havasu City Mayor, Cal Sheehy, issued a proclamation declaring the existence of a local emergency, effective March 18. Mayor Sheehy and members of the Lake Havasu City Council urge all citizens to practice social distancing, avoid groups of 10 or more, practice good hygiene, stay home when it is an option, and remain calm.

Mayor Sheehy released a video shortly after he signed this proclamation, available at www.lhcaz.gov/covid-19

“At this time, there are no confirmed cases in Lake Havasu City or Mohave County. We continue to work closely with Mohave County Department of Public Health, the lead agency in this matter. We are following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Arizona Department of Health Services.

We are asking citizens to follow the CDC guidance of social distancing, practicing good personal hygiene by washing your hands regularly and covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough. Please remain calm during these unprecedented times.

Today, I signed a proclamation declaring the existence of a local emergency in Lake Havasu City. We are asking our citizens to follow CDC guidelines including practicing social distancing and avoid groups of 10 or more, practice good personal hygiene, and stay home when it is an option. Our focus is to flatten the curve of the spread of the COVID-19 virus and keep our hospitals from becoming overwhelmed, and maximize available funding. We ask that public gathering places, such as bars, clubs, libraries, gyms, and other places where groups in excess of 10 congregate, are asked to take measures to implement social distancing. All restaurants, food courts, cafes, coffeehouses, retail food facilities, and other similar businesses and establishments are asked to take measures to implement social distancing, and increase the use of delivery service, window service, drive-through window service, or drive-up service and to use precautions in doing so to mitigate the potential transmission of COVID-19, including social distancing. We are asking all businesses to implement social distancing, limits on household purchases of essential items to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Lake Havasu City.

Governor Ducey and his office have been in contact with Mayors across the state. We meet daily on a conference line to share best practices and get updates from the State and the efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. In addition, I have been in contact with Senator McSally’s office and with Senator Sinema’s office. I am urging our federal leaders to act fast on programs to help our employees across the city that are being financially impacted by COVID-19 related slow-downs. In addition, I have asked for immediate relief for our small businesses that desperately need it. I will continue to push these conversations forward with our elected leaders at the federal level.

I continue to work with the medical community to ensure the health and safety of our citizens. I am proud of the work that the medical community and volunteers have done to support the efforts of our citizens. Testing has started, but more testing needs to be done to ensure our citizens with symptoms have access to testing. Our medical community is working on developing availability and access for those in need of testing. I am grateful for the medical community and partners for being proactive to protect our citizens.

The President has urged our young adults to help by social distancing. Please follow the CDC guidance and help make Lake Havasu City safe. Please help spread credible information – sources from the World Health Organization, CDC, Arizona Department of Health Services and Mohave County Department of Public Health, as we are working around the clock with them to answer your questions and coordinate efforts. We will make it through this.

I am grateful for our first responders, front line medical community, and volunteers that are working to flatten the curve and stop the spread of the virus.

We have been assured the supply chain is intact and our grocery stores remain open to support the needs of our citizens. Many of our local grocery stores have set particular hours for seniors. Thank you to our grocery stores and grocery clerks as they work so hard to meet the increased demands from our citizens.

Again, please remain calm during these unprecedented times. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you as Mayor. Please be kind, remain calm, and stay healthy. Thank you.”