At a press conference on Wednesday, June 17, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey relinquished state decisions on whether to mandate masks, leaving the decision up to local control.

The executive order today permits any “county, city or town and town” to “based on the conditions in its jurisdiction, adopt policies regarding the wearing of face coverings in public for the purpose of mitigating the spread of COVID-19.”

The 91 city councils and town councils in Arizona and the 15 county boards of supervisors could determine for their community how, when and where to require masks.

There are five incorporated towns and two counties with some jurisdiction over parts of the Verde Valley.

Executive Order 2020-40 goes on to state regarding this new policy, “Any enforcement of such a policy shall focus first on educating and working to promote best practices to accomplish the goal of mitigation. An individual shall be notified of the provisions of this order or any policy adopted by a county, city or town and given an opportunity to comply prior to any enforcement action being taken.”

Ducey also issued new rules for businesses to follow.

NOW: I’m joining @AZDHS Director @DrCaraChrist and Arizona DEMA Director Major General McGuire to share the latest on #COVID19. https://t.co/JhKrfDF5Au

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) June 17, 2020

Executive Order 2020-40
Containing the Spread of COVID-19 Continuing Arizona Mitigation Efforts

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, pursuant to Arizona Revised Statute §26-303 and §36-787, a declaration of Public Health State of Emergency was issued due to the necessity to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and mitigate the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on March 30, 2020, the Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, based on an epidemiological assessment of Arizona specific data and in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, recommended the State implement enhanced mitigation strategies which are continuing; and

WHEREAS, on May 12, 2020, Executive Order 2020-36, Stay Healthy, Return Smarter, Return Stronger, was issued outlining requirements for businesses to assist in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 as they reopened and mandated that businesses adopt policies consistent with guidance from the CDC and the ADHS; and

WHEREAS, since that time, many individuals and businesses have demonstrated great responsibility in taking precautions when out in public to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 while attending to their daily activities and needs; and

WHEREAS, on or about June 12, 2020, a study was published that demonstrated the effectiveness of face coverings in preventing the transmission of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, due to the availability of Personal Protective Equipment and efforts taken to increase capacity in our hospitals and intensive care units, Arizona continues to be prepared to face the potential for an increase in patients needing treatment for COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, increased diagnostic and serology testing has accelerated in Arizona in partnership with private labs and the universities; and

WHEREAS, as of June 17, 2020, there have been 40,924 diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in Arizona including 1,239 deaths, and the State is seeing an increase in the number of cases and hospitalizations; and

WHEREAS, the local health departments have the primary responsibility for ensuring case investigation and contact tracing of communicable diseases within their jurisdiction to identify the cause of the increased number of cases; and

WHEREAS, the Arizona Department of Health Services has the ability to coordinate statewide activities to assist with case investigations and contact tracing using the resources available to the State; and

WHEREAS, the increased community spread has demonstrated the need for a consistent, statewide system for case investigation and contact tracing; and

WHEREAS, the increased case numbers and hospitalizations also necessitate the need for an incteased focus on precautionary measures by both businesses and individuals; and

WHEREAS, the CDC and the ADHS continue to update their guidance for prevention and mitigation of COVID-19 with additional information to help individuals make decisions about going out while preventing and mitigating the spread of the virus; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to A.R.S. § 36-787(A), during a State of Emergency declared by the Governor, ADHS has primary jurisdiction, responsibility and authority for:

1. Planning and executing public health emergency assessment, mitigation, preparedness response and recovery of the State;

2. Coordinating public health emergency response among State, local and tribal authorities;
3. Collaborating with relevant federal government authorities, elected officials or other states, private organizations and private sector companies; and
4. Coordinating recovery operations and mitigation initiatives subsequent to public health emergencies.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Douglas A. Ducey, Governor of the State of Arizona, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State, including but not limited to A.R.S. §§ 26-303 and 36-787, and after consultation with the Director of ADHS, do hereby order that effective June 18, 2020 at 12:00 a.m.:

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, | have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Arizona.

/s/Doug Ducey

GOVERNOR

DONE at the Capitol in Phoenix on this seventeenth day of June in the year Two Thousand and Twenty and of the Independence of the United States of America the Two Hundred and Forty-Fourth.

ATTEST:

/s/ Kathy Hobbs

Secretary of State