Downtown Phoenix restaurants are applying their own mask policies after the state passed law exempting businesses from enforcing a mask mandate.
Governor Doug Ducey approved HB 2770 on April 9, stating, “A corporation in this state is not required to enforce on its premises a mask mandate issued by that state, city, town, county, or other jurisdiction this state was established. ”
After the bill was passed, restaurants in downtown Phoenix adopted different mask guidelines for their employees and customers.
Krystal Aguilera has been working at the Fair Trade Cafe for four years and said the cafe will be closed for six months and reopened during the pandemic. Since then, the business has still required employees to wear masks, but it’s now optional for customers.
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“We wear a mask out of respect for anyone who would prefer us to wear masks, because in the same way it doesn’t affect people who choose not to wear them,” said Aguilera. “We noticed that most customers don’t wear a mask now, but every other customer wears one and we still want to maintain that respect.”
Aguilera added that she agreed to the mask policy.
“I don’t mind,” said Aguilera. “I know that at the end of the day it will only protect me”
When you enter the entrance to the Songbird Coffee & Tea House there is a sign that says masks are recommended. Owner Erin Westgate spoke about the mask policy she gave her workers and customers.
“All of our employees have to wear masks when they are around customers and during their shift. We ask our customers to wear it, but it’s not mandatory, ”Westgate said.
Westgate expressed why it was implementing the policy.
“I want everyone to be safe. We are all vaccinated for our employees, but there is still one transmission. We want to be an example of what our customers should do, ”Westgate said.
Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana has a different policy than the other restaurants and does not require any masks from employees or customers. Manager Jamie Naquin said the decision was made after the Mask Exempt Mandate Act was passed.
“After the mandate was canceled, we took away the mask policy for our guests and for our staff. We thought people could make their own decisions about how to go about it and how to be safe, ”said Naquin. “Our guests know that our staff does not wear masks. So if they get uncomfortable, there are still plenty of places where it is necessary. “
Ducey stated in his letter that while there was never a nationwide mask mandate during the height of the pandemic, over 90% of Arizona residents live in a jurisdiction that has put in place a mask mandate to help slow the spread of COVID-19. He also said that larger cities did not impose a mask mandate, leaving companies to decide which mask policies to follow.
“I understand the concern and grief this has caused for many of these companies, and I am grateful that the sponsor brought this bill to address this very issue,” said Ducey.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Maricopa County has the highest transmission rate in the Arizona community and suggests that everyone in the community should wear a mask in public indoor spaces. As of November 1, 50.1% of the county’s population will be fully vaccinated and approximately 58% will receive at least one dose.
Because of the high transmission, there must be a higher vaccination rate, said Westgate.
“It’s not over. People are still dying,” Westgate said. “People have to get vaccinated. If everyone did that, we wouldn’t have so many memorials. We just want to play it safe.”
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