Arizona Gov. Ducey Reopens Businesses To Full Capacity
Governor Doug Ducey announced on Friday that it is lifting the state’s capacity for restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, bowling alleys, water parks and bars that serve food for dine-in.
Arizona does not have a statewide mask order but according to AARP, “Masks are required for employees and customers of barbers and cosmetologists. They are recommended in other circumstances. Several cities and counties have full mask orders in place, including Maricopa County, home to Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe, and Pima County, which includes Tucson.”
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Earlier this week the governor signed a different executive order that requires all public schools in the state to be back in person instruction by March 15 or after Spring Break.
According to the executive order, businesses will still have to follow the CDC-recommended guidelines of enforcing social distancing, mask requirements and increased cleanings but this is still a major step towards helping businesses thrive again.
The executive order prevents mayors and local jurisdictions from issuing any ‘extreme’ order that could shut down businesses.
Rep. Any Biggs of Arizona stated, “For months, I have urged Arizona officials to fully reopen businesses, to give freedoms back to Arizonans, & to allow our people to make the decisions that best suit them when it comes to their health, safety, & well-being.”
For months, I have urged Arizona officials to fully reopen businesses, to give freedoms back to Arizonans, & to allow our people to make the decisions that best suit them when it comes to their health, safety, & well-being. https://t.co/Ts6e8uTEHd
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) March 5, 2021
In a press release from the EO, “For businesses, physical distancing and mask protocols will remain in place, however specific occupancy percentage limitations will expire. This applies to restaurants, gyms, theaters, water parks, bowling alleys, and bars providing dine in services.”
ABC15 reported, “For the last several months, bars, restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, and water parks have been limited to either 25% or 50% occupancy due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Spring Training and Major League Sports will have the ability to operate upon submission and approval of a plan to the Arizona Department of Health Services that demonstrates implementation of safety precautions and physical distancing.”
The Arizona governor said on twitter this morning, “Seven weeks of declining cases of #COVID19, more 2 million vaccination doses administered – AZ has learned a lot over the past year and our businesses have done an excellent job at responding to this pandemic in a safe and responsible way.”
“Unlike other states, we never did a shutdown here in Arizona. We withstood the calls from the extremes on both sides, and we will continue to ignore them. We always knew that fighting this virus would be dependent on the personal responsibility of everyday Arizonans. Like the rest of the country, Arizona has made its way out of the winter surge of cases. And we are leading the nation in the vaccination roll out. Our mitigation strategies have been targeted and data driven,” the governor continued.
“Our latest guidance continues that approach. Today, I’m issuing an Executive Order that expires occupancy limits on businesses in Arizona, while preserving the distancing and masking mitigation measures that our businesses have successfully implemented in this pandemic. We are not in the clear yet. We need to continue practicing personal responsibility. Wear a mask. Physically distance. With the vaccine rollout advancing rapidly, we continue to have hope for the future.”
