Scottsdale's mayor is rolling back the city's mask requirement, which has been in place since June 19.
Mayor Jim Lane lifted the requirement on Tuesday because of the decrease in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Maricopa County.
“When the original face covering order went into effect, our hospital system was in crisis,” said Lane. “The alarming growth in cases across the county was pushing hospital capacity to the limit, and Scottsdale’s mask requirement was part of efforts in communities across the state to get that situation under control. It worked.”
Lane reminded residents to make responsible decisions - like washing your hands and social distancing - to keep others safe and reduce the spread of the virus.
New coronavirus cases were at an all time high in Maricopa County in late June and early July. The number of new cases peaked at 3,838 in June 29 while 79 new cases were reported on Monday, according to the county's COVID-19 website.
Lane's mask roll back only has a very limited effect since a countywide mandate is still in place. People will still need to wear a mask in most public places in Scottsdale.
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