PHOENIX – Restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, bowling alleys, water parks and food bars can be opened immediately at 100%, Arizona Government Doug Ducey announced Friday, lifting one of the state’s mitigation strategies amid the ongoing COVID -19 pandemic.
Businesses will still have to apply social distancing, masking requirements and increased cleaning work, and according to the executive order will have to continue to follow the CDC-recommended guidelines.
“Today’s announcement is a measured approach; we are not clear yet. We must continue to exercise personal responsibility. Wear a mask. Social distance. Stay home when you are sick and wash your hands regularly,” said Reger. Ducey in a prepared statement.
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Our latest guidelines continue the approach. Today, I issue an executive order that expires the occupancy restrictions of businesses in Arizona, while preserving the distance and mitigation measures that our businesses have successfully applied in this pandemic. 4/5
– Doug Ducey (@dougducey) 5 March 2021
The executive order also prevents mayors and local jurisdictions from issuing ‘extreme’ orders that will shut down businesses, the governor’s office said in a news release announcing the executive order.
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Over the past few months, pubs, restaurants, gyms, cinemas and water parks have been limited to 25% or 50% due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Governor’s Office cited the declining COVID-19 cases of the state and increased the COVID-19 vaccinations as reasons for reducing restrictions.
Earlier this week, Governor Ducey signed an executive order requiring all public schools in the state to offer personalized instruction by March 15 or after Spring Break. Schools may still have virtual learning.
Governors in Mississippi and Texas have also lifted restrictions in their states, including the requirements for the mask. Arizona, however, does not have a mask requirement for the entire country, although several cities and provinces have instituted their own measures.
To date, more than 515,000 people have died in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, more than 16,000 Arizona people have died from COVID-19 complications.
To date, more than 1.3 million people in Arizona have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, of which 700,000 have received both doses, according to ADHD’s online data dashboard.