By Ray Stern | Phoenix New Times
Arizonans are a special breed. Our state is the final frontier of the Lower 48, and we tend to find it particularly detestable when told what to do by the government. That extends to wearing masks during a plague. Just because the rest of the world is wearing masks doesn’t mean Arizonans will. A troubling spike in COVID-19 infections here hasn’t seemed to sway many, either.
Lately, some local institutions have moved in the direction of encouraging masks. On Friday, Arizona State University President Michael Crow announced that the school would be requiring masks indoors on campus and outside where social distancing isn’t possible. And Maricopa County public health director Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine admitted this week that, though she hadn’t previously been wearing masks on a routine basis, her mind has been changed on the subject in light of new scientific evidence that shows masks prevent the spread of COVID-19.
