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Tempe keeps its mask mandate

Effective immediately:
Face coverings still required in Tempe businesses, public places

April 8, 2021

Tempe, AZ – The Tempe City Council has tonight affirmed that, effective immediately, the City of Tempe will continue to enforce its mask mandate in all public places.

A Mayoral proclamation requiring face coverings has been in place in Tempe since June 18, 2020, after the Governor allowed local governments to enact such measures.

Since Gov. Doug Ducey’s March 25 Executive Order prohibiting the mask mandates of local governments, Tempe had been evaluating impacts and next steps. The City Council discussed the issue at tonight’s Work Study Session, taking into consideration Tempe Charter authority, state law and Attorney General opinions.

The Council’s unanimous consensus tonight was that, effective immediately, Tempe’s mask mandate will be enforced again at all places of public accommodation in the city, including at all businesses, public transit and city facilities.

Mayor Corey Woods asked that city staff develop ways to use existing data about vaccine rates and case counts as objective thresholds to guide when Tempe may choose to sunset its mask mandate in the future. Woods issued a statement following the Council decision.

"Given the discussion amongst the Tempe City Council, City Manager Andrew Ching will work with city staff and outside entities such as
Arizona State University and the Arizona Department of Health Services to establish science-based, objective thresholds for Tempe so that we will have indicators about when to responsibly end our city mask mandate."

- Mayor Corey Woods

In accordance with the Governor’s requirements, Tempe has followed an education-before-citation approach to non-compliance with its proclamation. Hundreds of educational phone calls and contacts were made by the city to businesses that were reported to have difficulties with enforcement of the mask ordinance.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend physical distancing and wearing face coverings as significant ways to reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus.

For questions, call Tempe 311 at 480-350-4311 on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Businesses can get downloadable, printable signs about mask requirements at tempe.gov/BusinessDownloads.

Tempe maintains COVID-19 information at tempe.gov/coronavirus.

Media contact: Nikki Ripley, City of Tempe, 480-313-8850

About the City of Tempe
Tempe makes waves as a technology and business magnet, an inclusive, caring community and a hub for recreation and adventure. Visit us.

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