PHOENIX — Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego in a statement on Tuesday said the city’s mask mandate is still in effect despite Gov. Doug Ducey ordering local governments to abandon the requirement.

“I stand with the majority of the Phoenix City Council who agree that the governor’s unilateral decision to order cities to abandon mask requirements is a case of significant government overreach,” Gallego said in a statement. “The governor’s authority is not without limits.”

“The governor’s order has caused tremendous confusion, particularly for local businesses,” Gallego said. “I’ve spoken to many business owners who want to do the right thing but don’t know why they have to do it alone. They’ve been pushed into the position of having to defend their masking policies with no help or backup from local government. That is wrong.”

Gallego said the reasoning for the continuation of the mask mandate in Phoenix is health expert recommendations that masks are the best technique for staying ahead of COVID-19 and the best and fastest way to fully reopen and recover.