ARIZONA, USA — Gov. Doug Ducey allowed individual Arizona cities to create their own policies about face-covering requirements and enforcement on Wednesday.
A face covering has proven to be effective at limiting the spread of COVID-19, according to the CDC. The virus is primarily spread by in-person contact through sneezes and coughs.
Many local government leaders across the state are either working on mask requirements for their cities or have already put them in place.
We have been tracking what leaders across the state have been saying about a potential mask policy.
Below are cities, counties and communities in Arizona that have a mask requirement in place in alphabetical order.
Avondale
Avondale Mayor Kenn Weise issued a Declaration of Emergency Proclamation requiring masks for employees and customers at all retail establishments. The order goes into effect Sunday, June 21.
Buckeye
The City of Buckeye scheduled a special city council meeting for Tuesday to discuss requiring face masks in public.
The city canceled that meeting after the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted regulations requiring all residents to wear face coverings.
"Since the county’s action supersedes the city action, it is no longer necessary to hold the meeting," city officials said Monday.
Bisbee
The City of Bisbee issued an emergency declaration to require masks in public starting June 18.
More information can be found here.
Carefree
A Health Emergency Proclamation made Thursday requires the use of face mask/coverings in Carefree within public places, public spaces and within businesses to the fullest extent practical.
The wearing of a face mask or facial covering by children less than 5 years old shall be at the discretion of their accompanying parent or guardian. Those unable to wear a face mask or facial covering because of a medical condition shall be exempt, according to the proclamation.
Casa Grande
Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland issued an order that requires people to wear masks in public buildings and private businesses that is effective immediately.
Chandler
Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke issued an order that people over 6 years old wear a mask. The order takes effect immediately.
The order applies to people outside their homes when physical distancing isn't possible.
Colorado River Indian Tribes
The Colorado River Indian Tribes implemented a reservation-wide requirement to wear face masks while in public on Friday.
"Given the rapid increase in positive COVID-19 cases, it is time to take these additional steps to slow this surge of COVID-19 cases on the reservation," the tribe said in a statement.
Individuals shall be required to wear a face mask over their nose and mouth, which does include cloth masks or coverings, while in a public setting.
All businesses on the reservation shall require all staff and customers to wear a face mask while inside their premises.
Exceptions are children younger than 2 years old and anyone with medical conditions that prevents the wearing of a face mask.
The requirement will be ratified at the Tribal Council meeting on June 22.
Flagstaff
Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans updated her Emergency Proclamation from March to include the requirement to wear face coverings in public places when people cannot maintain social distancing.
This proclamation is effective starting June 20 at 8 p.m.
Gila County
Face masks were required to enter county courthouses starting in June.
Find more information here.
Gila River Indian Community
Governor Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community signed an executive order Thursday making protective face coverings mandatory on Community lands.
The measure was signed hours after the Community Council voted to close the Community’s casino operations for a two-week pause in business. All employees will be paid and receive full health benefits during this pause.
Gilbert
The Gilbert Town Council adopted an emergency order requiring face masks to be worn in public.
It went into effect on June 19, but Mayor Jenn Daniels allowed it to expire on July 19 and had Maricopa County's mask mandate take over.
This didn't change anything for residents.
More information can be found here.
Glendale
Glendale Mayor Jerry P. Weiers issued an Emergency Proclamation requiring masks in the city after an emergency city council meeting.
The order becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 20.
Goodyear
The Goodyear City Council met Friday night in executive session for legal advice on the governor’s executive order that allows cities to create their own policies on face coverings.
Mayor Georgia Lord signed an emergency declaration that went into effect at midnight on Sunday.
Anyone over the age of six must wear a face covering when they leave their home if they are within six feet of another person who is not a member of their family or household.
They don't have to wear a mask if they can't due to a health condition, if they're younger than 6, due to religious beliefs, in schools or educational facilities, while dining at a restaurant, while exercising outdoors, while playing group or team sports and while in settings "where it is not practical or feasible to wear a face covering."
Anyone in violation will be educated first on the requirements then given a warning. People with valid exceptions to the rules will be given the opportunity to explain. Any second and subsequent violations may result in a civil penalty of not more than $50.
Guadalupe
On June 19, the Town of Guadalupe made face coverings in public required.
Residents who don't have access to face coverings can pick up face masks from the Town Hall lobby on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Kingman
The City of Kingman requires everyone to wear a mask when entering city buildings.
The policy goes into effect on June 22.
Lake Havasu City
Lake Havasu City has issued a mask requirement for people in public ahead of the Fourth of July weekend.
Lake Havasu City Mayor Cal Sheehy issued a proclamation requiring residents and visitors to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth while at businesses.
The requirement was ordered "due to the influx of visitors this holiday weekend and concern from our residents."
City officials asked that residents do not call 911 to report non-compliance. The proclamation goes into effect on July 3 and lasts until at least July 27.
Everyone in Lake Havasu City over the age of six must cover their nose and mouth whenever they enter places of business that serve the public.
Maricopa County
The Maricopa County Board approved a measure that requires face coverings for residents across the entire county.
The order goes into effect on Saturday, June 20 at midnight. The measure will be secondary if cities within the county have issued their own order.
Read the full details on the county website.
Mesa
Mesa Mayor John Giles said a city proclamation requiring face coverings will go into effect in Mesa at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 22.
People will have to wear a face covering when entering, exiting, waiting in line to enter or while inside of a business or city facility, in any outdoor space where physical distancing of at least six feet is not maintained from others who are not a member of their own household and in all places of business for employees interacting with the public.
The exceptions include people who can't wear one due to a health or developmental condition, kids under six years old, restaurant and bar patrons while eating or drinking, when inside your car, while exercising in a gym with six feet of physical distancing and religious institutions.
Public and private schools will be able to implement their own policies.
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation ordered all people on the tribe's reservation to wear protective masks when out in public back in April.
The Navajo Department of Health issued the emergency health order for the reservation, which includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
Paradise Valley
The Town of Paradise Valley issued an executive order back in March that stated that face masks should be worn in public.
More information can be found here.
Payson
Payson is requiring the use of masks in public as of Thursday. The order will be in effect until further notice.
No other specifics were released. The order was put into place in an effort to keep businesses open.
The Mudder and Fourth of July celebration were canceled.
Residents were asked to continue social distancing and washing their hands.
Peoria
Mayor Cathy Carlat issued an emergency declaration that required people in Peoria to wear masks in public spaces when social distancing isn't possible.
The order takes effect on Monday, June 22 at 6 a.m.
Pima County
The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted to require masks in public.
There are some exceptions, including for children under the age of five.
See the below post for more information.
The order was voted on Friday.
Phoenix
Phoenix City Council officially implemented a mandatory mask ordinance, which begins at 6 a.m. Saturday June 20.
All persons 6 years old or older who are present in the City of Phoenix shall have possession of a face covering, according to the order.
Exceptions in Phoenix include those with underlying medical conditions that cannot wear a mask, for restaurant patrons while they are dining, for those exercising outdoors, for those engaging in organized group or team sports, exercise or other physical activities where it is not practicable or feasible to wear a mask or socially distance.
San Luis
San Luis Mayor Gerardo Sanchez signed a proclamation mandating face coverings in public spaces Wednesday night and is effective immediately.
Santa Cruz County
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors ordered face coverings to be required while in public if social distancing isn't possible.
It was effective starting Friday. The exceptions can be found here.
Santa Cruz County has the third-highest infection rate per capita in Arizona, the county said.
Salt River Indian Community
The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Council ordered people to wear face coverings in public starting on Friday.
Children under the age of 7 won't have to wear them.
More information can be found here.
Scottsdale
Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane issued an emergency proclamation that requires people to cover their nose and mouth in most public areas.
It will take effect on June 19 at 5 p.m.
Somerton
Mayor Jerry Anaya signed an emergency proclamation Thursday morning requiring face coverings for all people in public areas.
Surprise
Effective Saturday, June 20, every person over the age of 2 is required to wear a face covering while in all public settings within the City of Surprise where it is difficult to maintain a minimum physical distance of six feet from others who do not live in the same residence.
Tempe
Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell issued an emergency proclamation on Thursday to require that all individuals within the City of Tempe, with limited exceptions, wear face coverings in public settings.
Tucson
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero amended her emergency proclamation to require Tucsonans age two years of age or older to wear a face covering when in a public setting where continuous physical distancing is difficult or impossible.
The order goes into effect at 6 a.m. Saturday morning.
Tolleson
Tolleson Mayor Anna Tovar signed a proclamation to make face coverings mandatory in public places. It goes into effect on Saturday at 8:00 a.m.
Yuma
Yuma residents are required to wear a face mask or covering any time they go out into public places after an emergency proclamation was signed Thursday.
It is effective immediately. Read the details here.
Yuma County
Yuma County ordered people to wear masks in public starting Thursday.
Anyone over the age of 2 will be ordered to wear them when in public and unable to social distance.
People who don't have to comply must have a medical condition or are exempted by the Arizona Department of Health Services from doing so.
A person who declines to wear a face covering because of a medical condition shall not be required to produce documentation verifying the condition.
This requirement applies to all workers and customers of businesses and other organizations open to the public that are permitted to operate.
More information can be found here.
Constitutional law expert and attorney at Perkins Coie, Dan Barr says state and municipal governments have tremendous discretion and authority regarding public health.
“We all live in a society and we all have obligations to one another for safety reasons," Barr said. "People don’t have the right to drive as fast as they want to drive on the freeways. Wearing a mask in a pandemic is a public health justification.”
Former state health director Will Humble says he's pleased with how many city councils and mayors have announced policies so far.
“The payoff is slower transmission of the virus," Humble said. "The payoff for that is we’re less likely to have to go into surge capacity for our hospital systems, which means people will continue to get the kind of care that they need and deserve if they get the virus. And if they get anything else for that matter.”
“It has a side benefit of lowering the chances we go into another catastrophic stay at home order with the kind of collateral damage that comes with," Humble said.
Experts have said that homemade or cloth masks do little to protect a healthy wearer from catching the virus, but it can help prevent someone who has COVID-19 from spreading it to others. This study specifically cites research that found homemade cloth masks can be 90% effective at preventing transmission.
“Cultural and even political issues may stop people wearing facemasks, so the message needs to be clear: my mask protects you, your mask protects me," professor John Colvin, a study co-author from Greenwich, said in a statement.
The study concluded that such practices can work in both developed and developing countries, the latter of which may need to rely more on homemade masks than medical-grade ones.
The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society A.
The World Health Organization last Friday updated its guidance, recommending everyone wear face masks in public in regions where the disease is spreading.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. The vast majority of people recover.