Arizona’s count of known COVID-19 cases jumped again Thursday, a day after Governor Doug Ducey told local governments they could mandate the wearing of face masks in public places. Ducey said it would be easier for local governments to mandate the practice rather than the state.
The Arizona Department of Health Services reported 2,519 additional cases and 32 new deaths. That raises the state’s total to 43,443 confirmed positive cases of coronavirus and 1,271 known deaths. The increases in cases broke a record daily high increase of 2,392 reported Tuesday. Governor Ducey faced mountain pressure from the public and from health care facilities statewide to mandate the wearing of face masks in public. The state is currently a national hotspot for the virus. Mayors in Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson and other cities have immediately responded by madating face masks in public places.
