Masks Become Optional Inside Tempe City-Run Buildings On Sat.

TEMPE, AZ —The City of Tempe announced Tuesday that face coverings will become optional for patrons and city employees at applicable indoor city-run facilities beginning on Saturday. Plus, masks also will be optional at special events hosted in city parks.

City Manager Andrew Ching said the decision was made in consultation with city leadership and is due to several factors, including: decreasing COVID-19 case counts in Tempe and regionally, increasing vaccination rates, lower hospitalization rates regionally, fewer calls for COVID-related emergency service in Tempe and lower detections of the virus in city wastewater.

Despite the easing of restrictions, there remain some places in Tempe where masks still will be required indoors, the city said.

The Tempe Municipal Court falls under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Supreme Court, the latter still requiring masks. Plus, the Tempe Transportation Center and the East Valley Bus Operations Center fall under the federal mask mandate, which is in place until March 18 and requires bus operators and passengers on all public transportation to wear masks.

The city said that people attending events at Tempe Center for the Arts still will be required to wear masks and show proof of vaccination.

"City officials will re-examine local data, re-evaluate local conditions and note evolving Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance in the coming weeks to determine future courses of action," the city said in a statement.