As reported here, many cities and counties across the U.S. have begun reinstating mask mandates in accordance with CDC guidelines. Below you will find an update on requirements for Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico.

Arizona

Phoenix: Effective Monday, August 2, 2021 face coverings will be required in all City of Phoenix facilities, regardless of vaccination status. The policy change applies to facilities employees, contractors as well as customers or visitors to city facilities.

Tempe: Effective Friday, July 30, 2021 patrons and city employees at indoor city-run facilities will be required to wear face masks until further notice. The requirement applies regardless of vaccination status. Exemptions include outdoor city-run facilities like parks and playgrounds and children under the age of six.

Peoria: Effective Thursday, July 29, 2021 the City of Peoria will require all city employees and visitors to wear masks inside city buildings. This applies to both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.

Tucson: While not yet a mandate, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero announced Thursday, July 29, 2021 that masks should be worn while inside publicly accessible facilities.

California
Several Northern California counties have implemented mask mandates:

Sacramento County: Effective July 30, 2021, face coverings must be worn, regardless of vaccination status, over the mouth and nose, in all indoor public settings, venues, gatherings, and workplaces. See the full Order here.

Yolo County: Effective July 29, 2021, face coverings must be worn, regardless of vaccination status, over the mouth and nose, in all indoor public settings, venues, gatherings, and workplaces. The Order clarifies that all non-residential settings are considered public, and common areas within apartments and other multi-household residential settings (e.g., common patios, laundry rooms, lobbies) are also considered public. See the full Order here.

Issuing a joint press release, six additional northern California counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma) and the City of Berkeley have announced indoor mask mandates for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status. These new Health Orders became effective August 3, 2021.

Each of these Orders provides additional requirements for individuals, businesses, venue operators, and others responsible for the operation of indoor public settings. The Orders also provide guidance as to when a mask need not be worn in an indoor setting.

Officials in Orange, Ventura, and Riverside counties are recommending masks be worn indoors regardless of vaccination status however, none have issued Executive Orders mandating their use.

Colorado

Initially scheduled to expire August 2021, Governor Jared Polis’ Executive Order mandating face-coverings for all individuals regardless of vaccination status has been extended through September 1, 2021.

Specifically, all individuals over the age of ten must wear a face covering when entering or moving within any public indoor space, or while using or waiting to use the services of any taxi, bus, light rail, train, car service, ride-sharing or similar service, or Mass Transportation Operations. Exemptions are included for those with medical conditions who cannot tolerate wearing masks and “individuals who are actively engaged in a public safety role” (e.g., firefighters, police officers and paramedics).

The Order defines public indoor space as “any enclosed indoor area that is publicly or privately owned, managed, or operated to which individuals have access by right or by invitation, expressed or implied, and that is accessible to the public, serves as a place of employment, or is an entity providing services.”

New Mexico

On July 29, 2021 New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an Executive Order requiring all state employees to either be fully vaccinated or otherwise submit to regular COVID-19 testing. The Order is effective August 1, 2021. While not yet a state mandate, Gov. Grisham made her position on masking clear in a tweet last week where she recommended masks be worn indoors.

To ensure compliance with updating state and local guidelines, employers should continue to monitor state and local public health announcements.