CLIFTON —Greenlee County has enacted a face covering requirement while Graham County’s coronavirus count continues to climb.
The Greenlee County Board of Supervisors approved the requirement of face coverings in public effective July 1 at midnight. The requirement applies to everyone over the age of 6, as well as requiring employees of businesses to wear masks.
Exceptions are: in the home; those categorized under CDC guidelines who should not wear a covering due to medical or mental health issue, or those with developmental disability; those exercising in an outdoor space where physical distancing can be observed; public safety employees and first responders when a mask would inhibit an essential function; when following the directions of public safety personnel and other first responders; in a vehicle or personal office; and when using a face shield to perform instruction in an educational setting.
Violating the order will earn a warning on first offense and $50 civil penalty on subsequent offenses.
Clifton mandated the use of face coverings but the Duncan Town Council opted to only recommend — not mandate — masks. The Greenlee County mandate specifically applies to all parts of the county, both incorporated and unincorporated.
Greenlee County has experienced 18 positive cases of COVID-19, with eight active cases, nine recovered and one death.
Graham County announced Wednesday an additional 12 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the county’s total to 108. Seven of the new cases are from Safford, two are from Thatcher, two from the San Carlos Apache Tribe and one from Pima.
Seventy-three of the cases are active, 33 have recovered and there have been two deaths.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe has added 11 new cases Wednesday as well as another death.
The total number of tribal members who have tested positive is at 164 —142 on the reservation and 22 off.
Forty-nine of those infected have fully recovered, 111 are active and there have been five deaths — one on the reservation and four off.
Editor’s note: This story was edited at 1:49 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2020, to include updated information from the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
