Location: Scottsdale City Hall Date: Wednesday June 24th Time: 10am
First Notice: Given the rise in COVID-19 cases
throughout Maricopa County, Scottsdale Mayor W.J. “Jim” Lane is working with the city’s
legal team to develop a mandatory public mask ordinance in Scottsdale. As government we are balancing the need to act for the sake
of communitywide public health, while also allowing as much personal freedom as
we can. Once all policy considerations are addressed, the mayor plans to issue
an emergency declaration enacting the regulation.Staff PR Dept.
Mayor Jim Lanes’
Proclamation
Masks mandatory in Scottsdale beginning
June 19
Given the rise in COVID-19 cases throughout Maricopa County,
Scottsdale Mayor W.J. "Jim" Lane has issued an emergency proclamation
that requires people to cover their nose and mouth in most public areas except
for individuals or small groups in parks or for outdoor exercise when physical
distancing can be maintained.
"We cannot afford another shutdown of businesses or
restaurants,” said Mayor Lane. "So we need each individual to make responsible
decisions for the sake of our entire community - wear your mask when out in
public."
Scottsdale's emergency proclamation goes into effect at 5 p.m.
Friday, June 19. The proclamation requires people to cover nose and mouth
within all public accommodations within the city, which includes grocery
stores, pharmacies, restaurants and bars, gyms and similar facilities, retail
stores, special events and public transit. Businesses that interact with the
public must require employees to wear face coverings as well.
“I recognize completely the intrusive nature of this directive.
I understand the resistance that many have to the loss of your personal freedom
to choose how you respond and react during this health crisis. In this
emergency, however, like any other, we have a civic responsibility to act and
sometimes accept actions that are important for recovery. As hospitalization
utilization continues to rise and trend toward threatening levels it becomes
imperative to slow the contagion rate – and wearing masks is a simple step
recommended by public health experts.” said Mayor Lane.
“We cannot ignore the numbers as COVID-19 cases mount. As
government we are balancing the need to act for the sake of communitywide
public health, while also allowing as much personal freedom as we can.”
Exceptions are allowed including for children under 5, those
persons engaged in religious services and those that per CDC guidance should
not wear face coverings due to health conditions. Read the proclamation here to
see the full list of exceptions.
Individuals will be given an opportunity to comply with the
proclamation before any enforcement action is taken. Continued failure to
comply with an emergency proclamation is a class one misdemeanor.
In addition to the mask regulation, Scottsdale’s emergency order
also encourages establishments that allow for the consumption of alcohol on
their premises to limit their occupancy to 50 percent to allow for better
social distancing.
According to Maricopa County Public Health, there is increasing evidence
that covering one’s nose and mouth prevents individuals from spreading the
virus, and also helps prevent them from contracting it. Learn more here
“Few people like wearing a mask, but it’s a simple and easy
thing to do, for a relatively short period of time, to help our community get
through this. No matter what government does, our ultimate success or failure
is a shared endeavor that depends largely on each individual doing their part.”
Kelly Corsette | Communications & Public Affairs Director
City of Scottsdale | Office of Communication
480-312-2336 | kcorsette@ScottsdaleAZ.gov
City of Scottsdale | Office of Communication
480-312-2336 | kcorsette@ScottsdaleAZ.gov
