Arizona is one of the few states that never made masks mandatory statewide. But allowing cities to impose their own restrictions — while also shutting down businesses such as bars and gyms — contributed to a 75 percent drop in coronavirus cases in less than one month, according to a new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The state suffered one of the world’s worst coronavirus outbreaks over the summer, with infections peaking after stay-at-home orders were lifted. In mid-June, Gov. Doug Ducey (R) lifted an executive order that had banned communities from imposing mask mandates. Most cities immediately began requiring face coverings in public, and the CDC report estimates that those local ordinances affected roughly 85 percent of the state’s population.
The number of new cases being reported each day stabilized about two weeks later, around the same time that Ducey closed bars, gyms, water parks and movie theaters. With that two-pronged approach in place, the seven-day average of new cases fell 75 percent from July 13 to Aug. 7, the researchers found.
So it took until mid-July for the governor to allow (/stop preventing) localities to make masks mandatory. Masks + closing bars/gyms/theaters greatly reduced transmission starting in two weeks. Gee, what a surprise.
Just imagine if AZ actually made mask wearing mandatory statewide, and also shut down restaurants and had a limit on gatherings (10 or whatever). Within 4 weeks they could be nearly virus free, but for some reason didn't choose that route.
Ridiculous.
While blocking cities and towns form mandating masks locally is gross negligence and should be criminal. I'm sure that policy resulted in deaths.
Mitch McTurtle:
"If any of you've been around me since May the 1st, I've said 'wear your mask, practice social distancing, it's the only way we know of to prevent the spread until we get a vaccine," he said. "And we've practiced that in the Senate. Now you've heard about other places that have had a different view and they are, you know, paying the price for it."
What happened to April? March? February?
Still better than most GOPers, I guess.
But still belated.
Don't the Righties understand that taking action early was the most effective response? And waiting until the spread has occurred makes it harder to stop, and infects, sickens, kill more?
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