Coconino News

As Arizona becomes one of the states currently seeing a new surge of COVID-19 cases, the City of Sedona now requires face coverings and those refusing could be looking at a misdemeanor citation, after a proclamation of emergency was signed by the city's mayor last week. 

According to a press release posted on the city's website, Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarty signed the proclamation after a majority of Sedona City Council members showed their support for mandated face coverings. 

Moriarty said in a statement that she is concerned about the rise in cases in the state and that face coverings, while a minor inconvenience, will help slow the accelerated spread of the coronavirus. 

“I’m concerned about the rising COVID-19 cases, and specifically the acceleration of community spread in Arizona," Moriarty said in the release. "We are not talking about protecting ourselves, but rather others: Wearing a face covering does not protect you, it protects others from infection by you. It is a small inconvenience to benefit everyone’s safety and slow the spread."

The mandate requires all those five years of age and older to wear a face covering in public where social distancing is not being practiced.