Pima County board member proposes indoor masking mandate

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TUCSON, Ariz. - A member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors wants to help curb the spread of the coronavirus by imposing a countywide mandate for people to wear masks while inside indoor public places and cannot easily social distance.

A resolution proposed by Supervisor Matt Heinz has been added to Dec. 21’s meeting agenda.

Heinz said that the pandemic is at "a critical moment" and that the lack of a masking mandate would hurt businesses because people may stop patronizing local businesses.

The omicron variant "has already been identified in Pima County, and people are looking for assurances that it remains safe to go about their lives," Heinz wrote Dec. 16 in a memo.

MAP: Arizona Coronavirus cases by zip code

In another development, state health officials on Dec. 18 reported 3,467 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases and 29 more deaths, increasing Arizona's pandemic totals to 1,334,067 cases and 23,516 deaths.

COVID-19-related hospitalizations statewide dipped slightly, with 2,533 virus patients occupying inpatient rooms as of Dec. 17, according to the state's coronavirus dashboard.

According to Johns Hopkins University data, Arizona's seven-day rolling average of daily new cases dropped over the past two weeks, falling from 3,324.6 on Dec. 2 to 3,058.6 on Dec. 16. The rolling average of daily deaths more than doubled during the same period, increasing from 31.4 to 77.1.

CDC: How coronavirus spreads, symptoms, prevention, treatment, FAQ

Arizona COVID-19 resources, FAQ: azdhs.gov/coronavirus

In order to protect yourself from a possible infection, the CDC recommends:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Monitor your health daily