HonorHealth, Scottsdale’s largest employer, and the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce pressed city leaders to reinstate its mask mandate after it was rescinded by the mayor.

Mayor Jim Lane announced Monday that the mask mandate, which took effect since June 19 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, would no longer be in effect. A mask mandate by Maricopa County still requires residents to wear face coverings in most public places in Scottsdale and beyond.

The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce and Honor Health responded with statements opposed to the rollback. 

HonorHealth, which has three medical centers in Scottsdale and other facilities that employed 6,323 employees in 2019, said in Tuesday’s statement that removing the mandate sends the wrong message and could reverse the progress made in stopping the spread of COVID-19.

“Not only have we seen less spread since the implementation of mask mandates, our physicians and staff were noticeably encouraged by the symbolism of the community doing all they could do to help reduce the spread of this disease,” HonorHealth CEO Todd LaPorte wrote.

Some City Council members lobbied Tuesday for the mandate to be extended, but the move was rejected in a 4-3 vote. 

Council rejects push to bring back mask mandate

Council member Linda Milhaven asked the city to develop an ordinance that would extend the mask mandate in response to the advice from local healthcare professionals and the needs of the local business community.

Council member Solange Whitehead seconded the motion, referencing LaPorte’s statement.

“I think that when the CEO of the largest hospital in the city of Scottsdale … tells us that the mask mandate is needed … I don’t have the qualifications to say I know better than him,” Whitehead said. “It’s our job to protect public health.”

The mayor defended his decision to rescind the mandate, saying wearing masks should be a matter of individuals practicing voluntary compliance.

“As far as the city’s concerned, this is something that they have a responsibility to do for their own personal health, but also as their civic responsibility to others,” Lane said. 

He went on to say that rescinding the city’s mandate was not an indication that face coverings don’t work. “This is simply a matter of simplifying and to recognize that we don’t want to be entirely dependent on masks to solve all the problems as we move forward,” Lane said. 

Lane and council members Suzanne Klapp, Kathy Littlefield and Guy Phillips rejected Milhaven’s proposal. 

‘Not the time to let our guard down’

Gov. Doug Ducey passed an executive order in mid-June allowing local communities to mandate face coverings, as Arizona was experiencing a rapid spike in cases. 

City-imposed mask mandates remain in effect in cities such as Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Chandler. In some cases, the city mandates are stricter than the county mandate. 

The Scottsdale chamber, in a statement released on Tuesday, said a mask mandate would support the “tremendous efforts” made by residents, business owners and health care professionals to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“Removal of a face covering mandate could have a negative repercussion on the health and wellbeing of our community and could potentially offset the progress made in combating the Covid-19 virus,” the statement said.

HonorHealth said that hospitalization levels for COVID-19 are more manageable than they were this summer, in part because of masking.

“While everyone desires a ‘return to normal,’ at this point there is still a substantial risk posed by COVID-19 and this is not the time to let our guard down,” its statement said.

HonorHealth called attention to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, which has endorsed wearing masks as the primary means to reduce the virus’s spread. 

What now?

For now, Scottsdale residents are still governed by the county mask mandate, which requires that masks be worn in all enclosed public areas and spaces where social distancing isn’t possible. Exemptions exist for people with medical conditions, children under the age of two and people eating and drinking in restaurants.

The county met in a closed-door executive session on Monday with public health officials and for legal advice on the mask mandate.

The county Board of Supervisors’ will hold its next public meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 7, though the board could schedule a special meeting to discuss the issue before then.

While Scottsdale rejected extending its mandate, the City Council is expected to discuss the state and countywide mask mandates in an upcoming work-study session.

Whitehead requested that discussion. “I think it will make us all more informed, including the community,” she said.

The motion passed 4-3, with Lane, Klapp and Phillips dissenting.

Have a tip out of Scottsdale? Reach the reporter Lorraine Longhi at [email protected] or 480-243-4086. Follow her on Twitter @lolonghi.

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