Here’s Why New Mask Mandates Could Return to Arizona

• Viruses tend to surge following holiday "togetherness."
• Four respiratory viruses are currently surging, causing officials to consider a return to mask mandates.
• The chances Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs will install mask mandates as these viruses spread across the state.

Respiratory Viruses Return to Arizona

It's the time of year we all dread: the post-holiday virus surge. All that indoor time spent with friends and loved ones, where we not only share Christmas and Hanukkah gifts but exchange respiratory viruses, too.

READ: Are Mask Mandates Returning to Arizona?

Influenza, RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus), and of course, our arch-nemesis, COVID. In the wake of all that "holiday giving," these dangerous illnesses are causing health officials to advise a return to mask mandates.

Will Mask Mandates Return to Arizona?

There was a lot of debate about exactly how much wearing masks did or did not slow down the spread of COVID-19.

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Back when health experts were still sorting out the cause and method of spreading the COVID virus, advisors like Dr. Anothony Fauci first advised against wearing masks. The reasoning was that the low availability of Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, should be reserved for health officials who desperately needed the supplies to continue their job.

Dr. Fauci later reversed that recommendation, insisting everyone should mask up. Whether you were healthy or actively showing symptoms of illness, the recommendation was the same: everyone should wear a mask to prevent the spread. Organizations picked up the mantle and mandated wearing face masks in nearly all public buildings.

READ: Could the New Covid Strain Bring Mask Mandates Back to AZ?

The highly controversial mandate sparked anger and fear across the world. Hold onto your seat because COVID mask mandates are coming back in some places, and it's got the hornets' nest buzzing.

Why Are Mask Mandates Returning?

Newsweek reported that emails sent by Dr. Fauci revealed that "face masks would not be very effective at protecting against the COVID-19 pandemic," and he privately advised against wearing masks, even during the height of the virus.

In spite of that, the mask mandate is making a comback. Don't be surprised if local hospitals and doctor's offices insist patients don a mask before entering facilities.

READ: The "New Fauci Virus" is Spreading Across Arizona

We're now entering the age of the "quad-demic" – a nasty mix of COVID-19, flu, RSV, and norovirus (the stomach flu).

Hospitals have seen a new surge in respiratory illnesses stirred up by holiday travel and family visits, and some insist on returning to public mask-wearing.

States Where Mask Mandates are Popping Up

Even at the height of the pandemic, Arizona was a little more lenient than some states. Then Governor Doug Ducey, a Republican, was reluctant to implement restrictions. According to AZ Central, once vaccination reached a tipping point, he pulled all remaining restrictions in late March 2021. Will Arizona's new democrat Governor, Katie Hobbs, take the same approach as her predecessor?

Some states are already beginning to return to mask mandates as these four respiratory viruses begin to take hold once again.

California, Arizona's neighboring state to the left, is already implementing policies to return to mask mandates. New York, Illinois, and New Jersey are following suit. Hospitals in these four states are once again beginning to require masks in certain areas for staff, patients, and visitors. Even some schools and businesses are jumping on board.

So, what about Arizona? Will organizations bar entry without face coverings?

As of now, there's no statewide mask mandate in place. If cases of these viruses continue to spike, things could change fast, and the first places to take the hit will most likely be high-risk areas like hospitals, schools, and public transportation.

Sources: CDC | Newsweek | AZ Central | News Nation