Since Arizona’s premature reopening on May 15, the state has maintained occupancy of around 90 percent of intensive care beds, received the ominous distinction of being the first in the nation to have implemented “crisis care” standards in hospitals, requested refrigerated trucks to handle possible morgue overflow, and led the entire world in new coronavirus cases per million residents.

The explosion of cases within the state — which, as per usual in the United States, has impacted low-income communities, African Americans, indigenous people, and Latinos the hardest — is due to Arizona Republican governor Doug Ducey’s decision to follow President Donald Trump in prioritizing industry and free market ideals above human lives.

On April 29, Ducey extended the state’s stay-at-home order to May 15. His intention was to “turn up the light” on Arizona’s economy with a “gradual and phased in” approach. But four days later and only hours before Trump was set to arrive in Arizona for a visit to the Honeywell manufacturing facility, the governor accelerated his reopening plans. Barber shops and nail salons were given an immediate green light, with restaurants, bars, and gyms soon to follow.