Governor Doug Ducey re-emphasizes requirement of masks at school

PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Health Services has issued an emergency measure requiring district and charter schools to require masks.

Officials said Wednesday schools are required "to immediately mandate that masks are worn on school campuses, on school buses and during school-associated activities by all students, faculty, staff, contractors, and visitors."

Any students or families that do not have access to masks can get some through ADHS, which has partnered with Hanes to provide five free masks. Click here to fill out a form to get free masks.

The newest emergency measure comes as local and national coronavirus cases continue to increase. On Thursday,Arizona health officials recorded the fifth-highest number of daily cases since the pandemic began.

Some schools have reverted to online learning to reduce the spread of the virus and school sports have also been impacted by the most recent jump in cases.

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The White House has also recently said "Arizona must now increase mitigation efforts as it did in the summer to flatten the curve."

Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman said she appreciated the governor's new mandate that all schools in the state have policies that require masks be worn on buses and on school grounds, but said "we must do more to minimize the spread of COVID19."