CDC Mask Guidance: Pima County Rescinds Mask Mandate

TUCSON, AZ — The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to end the county's mask requirement Friday, in light of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's updated mask guidelines.

The CDC's announcement centered around the fact that most Americans don't need to wear masks, indoors and outdoors, if they're fully vaccinated and don't live or work in a correctional or detention facility, a homeless shelter, are traveling on a plane, or are around someone who has COVID-19, the center said.

The CDC's guidance says that people are still subject to any federal, local or tribal mask requirements, such as the one that cities like Scottsdale had in place.

The Tucson City Council has yet to end the city's mask requirement, though Mayor Regina Romero came out in support of such a move Friday.

The council will discuss ending the city's mask requirement at its Tuesday afternoon meeting, scheduled for 2 p.m., according to Romero's office.

Romero described her reasoning in a statement:

“With the release of updated CDC guidelines, and no way of distinguishing between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, I will be asking my colleagues on the Council to consider ending our local mask-wearing requirement at our meeting on Tuesday while continuing to strongly recommend that Tucsonans follow CDC guidelines, including mask-wearing when appropriate,” said Mayor Regina Romero.

“It is because we masked up and followed the advice of our public health experts that we are in a position where cases are low and we can take additional steps to fully return back to normal. Unlike our state leaders, here in Tucson we have listened to our public health experts and followed the science since the beginning of this pandemic. This marks an important milestone in our fight against COVID-19, and I want to thank all Tucsonans for their tremendous efforts and sacrifice to keep our community healthy. ”

Pima County just rescinded its mask mandate for fully vaccinated individuals in a 4-1 vote. About 40% of the county is fully vaccinated, per @CDCgov.
— Nicole Ludden (@nicolemludden) May" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/nicolemlud... 14, 2021

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.