Gov. Doug Ducey on Thursday walked back his controversial decision to allow Arizona's salons to stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming his executive order outlining "essential services" did not include them.

"The businesses you're talking about are not covered," he told moderator Ted Simons during a town hall broadcast live throughout the state.

"If they're looking for cover under one of the categories, then they're going to have to be able to demonstrate that they can exercise social distancing or some other type of protective (measures)."

The Republican leader doubled down when pressed by Simons and co-moderator Carey Peña, saying: "The businesses that are being mentioned here are not inside the order."

The text of Ducey's essential services order, issued March 23, does not explicitly mention salons. But Ducey's town hall statements contradict guidance issued by his office that day, which defined "personal hygiene services" as "including barber shops and salons."

The order, which precluded cities and counties from closing any business the governor deemed essential, spurred widespread backlash from mayors who questioned the importance of such services during a pandemic.

Some hair and nail salon owners, as well as their employees, argued the state was putting their and their customers' health at risk.

The criticism intensified after Ducey issued a statewide stay-at-home order on Monday without modifying the list of essential services. An article published in Politico on Thursday headlined, "In Arizona, Liberty Trumps the Virus Fight," led with an anecdote from a frustrated salon owner.

Thursday's town hall — which moderators said had drawn more than 5,000 questions from the public — almost immediately forced the governor to address that frustration, with Simons saying "a lot of folks" were "curious as to why hair salons, nail salons are considered essential services."

When Ducey referenced the portion of his stay-at-home order that says essential businesses "shall establish and implement social distancing and sanitation measures," Simons countered: "How does a nail salon or someone who is styling hair … How in the world do they keep the recommended social distancing?"

Ducey responded that officials had "focused on shutting down as much as we could … to slow that spread," and "those services are not covered under the order."

When Peña pushed further, the governor said: "If we need to update the guidance, we will do that."

"This is changing on a daily basis," he said. "We've increased the guidance along the way, and it seems like we need some clarity around these issues. Because if people aren't practicing the physical distance, if they aren't using protective measures … then they're out of compliance."

The stay-at-home order states violators would face a Class 1 misdemeanor, but they must be given a chance to comply with the order first.

Other notable exchanges:

Much of Thursday's hourlong discussion — which also featured the state's Department of Health Services director, Department of Emergency and Military Affairs director and chief operating officer — revisited information the officials had previously shared.

But a few answers stood out, either because they offered new insight or were simply unexpected.

Morgue capacity

When asked about the state's morgue capacity, DHS Director Dr. Cara Christ said the state was assessing "how much more capability we have" and "likely would need to bring in additional resources."

Unauthorized immigrants

When asked what he would say to unauthorized immigrants in Arizona who may fear going to work or seeking health care, the governor said: "Wash your hands. If you're sick, stay at home. Cover your cough, and physically distance." He said the new coronavirus "knows no border … no class or background or distinction."

Testing

When presented with criticism of the state's lack of testing, Christ said the state had tested "over 23,000 people in Arizona so far" with the help of commercial labs. That number is more than double what the state was reporting about a week ago.

Social distancing at work

Asked about Arizonans reporting that their employers aren't implementing social distancing guidelines or allowing sick workers to stay home, Ducey appeared to suggest the employees leave their jobs. "They can go to arizonatogether.org, and they can access the benefits and they don't have to be there anymore," he said.

Reach the reporter at maria.polletta@arizonarepublic.com or 602-653-6807. Follow her on Twitter @mpolletta.

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