A few exceptions exist to the city rule. The Tempe Municipal Court falls under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Supreme Court, which requires mask-wearing. Bus operators and passengers on all public transportation—including school buses—also are required to wear masks under a federal mandate in place until March 18. This applies to the Tempe Transportation Center and the East Valley Bus Operations Center.
Patrons attending performances at Tempe Center for the Arts still are required to wear masks and present proof of vaccination as well.
According to the release, City Manager Andrew Ching, in consultation with city leadership, determined that several indicators allow this change, including “decreasing COVID-19 case counts in Tempe and regionally; increasing vaccination rates; lower hospitalization rates regionally; fewer calls for COVID-related emergency service in Tempe; and lower detections of the virus in city wastewater.”
The release added, “City officials will re-examine local data, re-evaluate local conditions and note evolving CDC guidance in the coming weeks to determine future courses of action.”
Tempe eased mask requirements back in May 2021 after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised that fully vaccinated people didn’t have to wear them outdoors or in most indoor settings. It reinstated the mandate at indoor city-run facilities in August 2021 after the CDC issued new guidance on July 27.
Tempe Union High School District announced on Feb. 17 it was lifting its mask requirement as of Feb. 22, following Kyrene School District, which ended its mandatory mask policy beginning Feb. 14. Tempe Elementary still requires masks indoors.
As of Feb. 23, 2022, 56.6 of the population in Tempe was considered fully vaccinated. Tempe urges anyone eligible who has not yet been vaccinated to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Information about dates and locations is online at tempe.gov/vaccines.
For questions, call Tempe 311 at 480-350-4311 on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tempe has repealed its mask mandate for employees and patrons at applicable indoor city-run facilities and at special events hosted in city parks starting Feb. 26. The decision was based on recent COVID-19 indicators, according to a city-issued press release.
A few exceptions exist to the city rule. The Tempe Municipal Court falls under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Supreme Court, which requires mask-wearing. Bus operators and passengers on all public transportation—including school buses—also are required to wear masks under a federal mandate in place until March 18. This applies to the Tempe Transportation Center and the East Valley Bus Operations Center.
Patrons attending performances at Tempe Center for the Arts still are required to wear masks and present proof of vaccination as well.
According to the release, City Manager Andrew Ching, in consultation with city leadership, determined that several indicators allow this change, including “decreasing COVID-19 case counts in Tempe and regionally; increasing vaccination rates; lower hospitalization rates regionally; fewer calls for COVID-related emergency service in Tempe; and lower detections of the virus in city wastewater.”
The release added, “City officials will re-examine local data, re-evaluate local conditions and note evolving CDC guidance in the coming weeks to determine future courses of action.”
Tempe eased mask requirements back in May 2021 after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised that fully vaccinated people didn’t have to wear them outdoors or in most indoor settings. It reinstated the mandate at indoor city-run facilities in August 2021 after the CDC issued new guidance on July 27.
Tempe Union High School District announced on Feb. 17 it was lifting its mask requirement as of Feb. 22, following Kyrene School District, which ended its mandatory mask policy beginning Feb. 14. Tempe Elementary still requires masks indoors.
As of Feb. 23, 2022, 56.6 of the population in Tempe was considered fully vaccinated. Tempe urges anyone eligible who has not yet been vaccinated to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Information about dates and locations is online at tempe.gov/vaccines.
For questions, call Tempe 311 at 480-350-4311 on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
