Governor Doug Ducey poses after receiving his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Tucson on March 24, 2021. (Twitter Photo / @ uarizona)
PHOENIX – Arizona Governor Doug Ducey on Thursday reversed the state’s remaining COVID-19 mitigation requirements, including local facial mask warrants.
Under a new executive order, all of the state’s business requirements have been changed to recommendations, and bars are now able to return to their pre-pandemic operations.
In addition, events for more than 50 people, including sports for young people, no longer need the approval of local governments.
Companies still have the option to demand social distance and masks.
Today we are in a different place and we are also much smarter. I am sure that Arizona businesses and citizens will continue to act responsibly as we gradually return to normal. Details about the new mitigation phase can be found here: https://t.co/JLKsoeAuzU 7 /
– Doug Ducey (@dougducey) March 25, 2021
“The measures put in place last summer allowed Arizona to fight COVID-19,” said Ducey in a press release. “I want to thank the local leaders who supported these efforts with their own measures and the companies that implemented them.
“Today we are in a different place and we are also much smarter. I am confident that Arizona businesses and citizens will continue to practice the fundamentals and act responsibly as we gradually return to normal. “
The order says that local governments cannot make any regulations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and specifically mentions the mandates for face masks.
He also rescinded a handful of previous executive orders issued by Ducey during the pandemic.
Ducey never ordered a mask mandate across the state. In June 2020, he gave authority to local jurisdictions over the matter. Other than that, he kept the power to regulate all state COVID-19 responses in his own hands.
Most of the state ended masked mandates, but the rest can no longer be served under Thursday’s order.
The announcement came when the state exceeded the 3 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered.
“As we said all along, vaccine distribution is our best way to get back to normal, and I want to thank the millions of Arizonans who rolled up their sleeves to make distribution and absorption so successful,” said Ducey. .
He also noted that the number of coronavirus cases has been decreasing for 10 weeks and hospitalizations have been at their lowest levels since the beginning of October.
Ducey has eased state restrictions related to COVID, as metrics have improved since the peak in January.
Earlier this month, he lifted capacity restrictions at companies covered by his executive order from June 2020. However, until Thursday, physical distance and mask requirements remained in place for restaurants, bars, nightclubs, covered gyms, covered theaters and water parks.