Tucson Brings Back Masks For City Facilities

TUCSON, AZ — Tucson Mayor Regina Romero has directed City Manager Michael Ortega to mandate masks in all city of Tucson facilities, as COVID-19 cases surge in the region.

The mandate goes into effect immediately, requiring masks be made available at entrances of all city facilities for those not wearing one.

Romero released the following statement on the decision:

"Since the start of the pandemic, we have followed the science and guidance of our public health experts,” Romero's statement reads.“Following yesterday’s changes to CDC guidelines, I have directed our City Manager to require all members of the public, including those who are fully vaccinated, to wear a mask inside of City of Tucson facilities.

“According to the CDC, Pima County is an area of ‘substantial transmission,’ with COVID-19 cases increasing locally and statewide. I strongly encourage all Tucsonans to continue to follow CDC guidelines and wear a mask whenever indoors in public, regardless of whether you are vaccinated.”

There have been 119,795 COVID-19 cases in Pima County to date, according to Arizona Department of Health Services data.

To date, 48.1 percent of Pima County residents have been fully vaccinated against the virus, the department's data shows.

The county is currently seeing "substantial" spread of the virus, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control And Prevention.

All but two Arizona counties are classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as having either 'high' or 'substantial' transmission rates, and they should be mandating indoor masks under the new federal guidance:

• Substantial: Areas with between 50 and 99.99 cases per 100,000 people in a week
• High: Areas with more than 100 cases per 100,000 in a week

In her statement, Romero reminded the public to get vaccinated against the virus, as doing so is the only way to bring case numbers down.

“The majority of hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19 involve unvaccinated individuals. For your health, for your family’s health, and for the health of your community, please do your part and get vaccinated if you have not already done so. The vaccine is safe and effective.”