City of Phoenix drops face mask mandate for those fully vaccinated
May 19, 2021, 6:29 PM | Updated: May 20, 2021, 12:55 pm
A fan wearing a facemask attends the MLB game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Cincinnati Reds at Chase Field on April 09, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX — Arizona’s most populous city has dropped its face mask mandate for those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Phoenix City Council voted unanimously to eliminate the nearly year-long mask mandate to align with recently updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Those who are fully vaccinated against the virus no longer need to wear a mask in both indoor and outdoor public places throughout Phoenix.
Masks will still be required on all public transportation, by federal order, as well as inside any city facilities which includes City Hall, libraries and offices.
Businesses also retain the right to require a mask if they choose.
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Phoenix is the latest Valley city to drop the face mask mandate.
Tempe announced earlier this week that masks are recommended but not required at all city facilities starting on Friday, while Mesa won’t require masks at all city facilities currently open to the public effective May 24.
Chandler and Scottsdale rolled back mask requirements last week.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on May 13 eased mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.
Wearing masks is still recommended in crowded indoor settings such as buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters, according to the guidance.
The Pima County Board of Supervisors also voted Friday to repeal a resolution mandating mask-wearing, while Maricopa County in an email Monday said those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear a mask in Maricopa County government buildings.
As vaccine numbers have grown, daily cases of the virus have fallen.
Over three million people have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Wednesday morning, representing 44.1% of the state’s population, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services’ dashboard. More than 2.6 million people are also considered fully vaccinated against the virus.
Arizona hasn’t recorded a day with more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases reported since March 1 after nearly four months with daily case numbers in the thousands.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
