Mayors and county supervisors received authority this week to issue their own requirements on masks after Gov. Doug Ducey amended his executive order that prevented them from doing so.
“Today we’re seeing facts on the ground, and different circumstances around the state support flexibility and a localized approach,” Ducey told reporters during a press briefing Wednesday.
Former Arizona Department of Public Services director Will Humble considers it a step in the right direction. Now the executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association, he supports a statewide mask policy and has been vocal in his criticisms of the governor’s response to the pandemic. He discussed changes he’s advocating for, such as giving local government leaders more authority to implement policies geared toward slowing the spread of the disease in their communities.
“I think there are many cities, maybe even counties in Arizona, that would be enthusiastic about making some local requirements around, say, nightclub operations. To limit the kinds of congregation that we’ve seen in many parts of the state, especially on weekends,” Humble said. “A lot of stuff is at stake here and I think that, in my opinion, it’s worth a little bit of confusion at the local level if it allows you to implement some common-sense measures that can make a real difference.”
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