South Pima News

City of Oro Valley issued the following announcement on June 25

Earlier today, the Town issued a media release announcing Amendment #7 to the March 17, 2020 Mayor Emergency Proclamation. The release stated that the Town formally adopts the applicable portions of the Pima County Board of Supervisor’s Resolution 2020-49 regarding the wearing of face coverings to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The Town would like to clarify the intent of Amendment #7.

Per Amendment #7, the Town’s intent is to require the wearing of face coverings when people cannot maintain a continuous distance of six feet from all other persons.

Exceptions to wearing face coverings, as noted in the March 19, 2020 Board of Supervisor’s Resolution 2020-49, include:

1. Children under the age of 5. Parents or guardians are responsible for ensuring that children between the ages of 5 and 17 wear appropriate face coverings when required under this Resolution. (Correction: The earlier release from the Town erroneously stated the proclamation was applicable to everyone over the age of five. The correct range is between the ages of 5 and 17.)
2. Persons who cannot medically tolerate wearing a face covering. A person is not required to provide documentation demonstrating that the person cannot medically tolerate wearing a face covering.
3. Persons who are hearing impaired, or communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.
4. Persons, including on-duty law-enforcement officers, for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines.
5. Persons who are obtaining a service involving the nose, face, or head for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service.
6. Persons who are eating or drinking at a restaurant or other establishment that offers food or beverage service, so long as the person is able to maintain a distance of 6 feet away from persons who are not members of the same household or party as the person.
7. Any member of a group of persons who are in a public place together and live in the same household or are part of a party of 10 or less, so long as the group can easily maintain a continuous physical distance of at least 6 feet from all other persons not part of the household or party.
8. Persons who are engaged in outdoor work, recreation, or exercise, when alone or as part of a group of people who live in the same household or constitute a party of 10 or less, so long as they are able to easily maintain a continuous physical distance of at least 6 feet from all other persons not part of the same household or party.
9. Persons who are incarcerated.
10. Persons who are swimming.
11. For any activity not listed for exemption, an exemption may be granted on a case-by-case basis from the Pima County Chief Medical Officer and the Director of the Pima County Health Department. General descriptions of exemptions granted will be posted on a website accessible via www.pima.oov, without identifying who requested the exemption.

Reporting violations

While Oro Valley is adopting these measures, the Pima County Health Department will remain the point of contact for violation reporting and complaints. A web page has been set up on the Pima.gov website for the public to report instances of noncompliance by establishments through a Business and Community Reporting Form. The county will not accept anonymous complaints. 

The Town of Oro Valley and Pima County have both expressed a desire to focus on education over enforcement. In its press release, the County Board of Supervisors states: “The board discussed at length enforcement of the rule. Education will be the primary response for establishments not requiring their staff and patrons to wear masks. Any further enforcement actions that would involve legal sanctions will require approval of the Board of Supervisors.”

Use 911 only for emergencies, not reporting face covering violations

To report violations, residents should use the Pima County web page for violation reporting  or call 520-229-4949. Do not call 911 to report face covering violations or ask questions. This ties up 911 lines and prevents Public Safety Telecommunicators from handling emergencies.

Original source can be found here.