Lake Havasu and Covid-19 Policies (Phoenix, Lake Havasu City: spring break, rentals, neighborhood)

[Lat 32]

I don't which Arizona city forum that Lake Havasu would fall under so I'm posting this in the general Arizona forum.

We're thinking of planning a short get-away to Lake Havasu immediately after Christmas to before New Year's. For the Lake Havasu locals, are you required to wear masks in:

• Restaurants?

• Stores?

• Outside / parks / trails?

• Approximately, what % of the locals wear masks?

We're hoping the answers are no to these answers as we would like normalcy. Last summer we visited Phoenix, everything was normal compared to California.

Thanks for the information.

[exit2lef]

I have no personal experience, but here's what I can tell you based on (social) media coverage:

Lake Havasu City had a mask mandate that expired in September. Mohave County has no mask mandate. Nevertheless, state regulations require mask wearing in certain regulated establishments such as restaurants. In addition, many national chain retailers have policies requiring mask wearing, regardless of local laws. That said, enforcement probably depends a lot on local conditions and the attitude of the business owners or managers.

Kristin Urquiza, who lost her father to COVID-19 and who has become a critic of the federal and state responses to the pandemic, recently tweeted about encountering unmasked crowds in Oatman, a rural town in Mohave County:

https://twitter.com/kdurquiza/status...929427971?s=20

Someone tweeted back about minimal mask wearing in Lake Havasu City:

https://twitter.com/candilee3/status...637896193?s=20

From their point of view, this was horrifying, but it might be what you are looking for.

[waltcolorado]

In Lake Havasu.. the larger grocery and hardware stores will have a very high percent of people wearing masks. Signs at the door saying to wear a mask and almost every one does. Its mostly a handful of small business where mask are not worn. Outdoor swap meet last week, about 50 percent of people wearing masks. Indoor restaurants.. cant tell you as I have not been in any but you cant eat with a mask on. There are plenty of options for outdoor eating here.

I would overall say the percent wearing mask is fairly high here, likely because about now everyone knows someone who at least got significantly sick. And this time of year, lots of older retired folks here with higher risk for worse outcome. Young folks here are much less likely to wear masks.

If the OP (maybe coming from a place with high infection levels) wants to get infected by going somewhere and not wearing a mask, I think you could find a couple "freedom" restaurant's here where you can exchange virus to your hearts content. You have a higher chance of getting the virus yourself by being careless around careless people.

[VTsnowbird]

If anyone else has anything to add about mask wearing in Lake Havasu City, go for it. This will NOT degenerate into a debate about mask wearing, Covid, vaccines, etc.

[citizensadvocate]

I am great full this thread remains open. I am surprised it’s very difficult to find any info on Lake Havasu city on city-data.com

Ie I was asking whether it’s a good place to spend winters or live. Maybe aside from the summer heat. I heard the population seem to grow 40% mid fall and shrink as much as 40% by mid May after the spring break season ends. Also whether it’s necessary to get a wilderness permit to explore wilderness places like Body Beach. I seem to see signs that suggest this.

The times I am in Lake Havasu city I noticed the people are far more relaxed in terms of Mask wearing compared to the California side of the border, though keep a mask handy for exceptions though. Especially for those incidental trips to California including to the casino on the ferry in which they do take temperatures in addition to making sure masks are on. Apparently i noticed many stores don’t seem to care too much whether people comply with their mask policies compared with their counterparts in California. Beaware that some Independent store owners might not wear masks at all if you are concerned about unmasked people particularly indoors.

[copjak]

Lake Havasu is not what it used to be. Short term rentals(bnb) are now common in every neighborhood and can be a nuisance, usually in the summer or boating season. The state has taken regulatory control from the cities, regarding short term rentals(bnb). Summer weekends are very busy on the lake and one must be very cautious with all the boat traffic. The grocery stores and restaurants are also crazy on the boating weekends. Winter visitors start arriving late September and start to leave in April. Stores and doctor’s offices are more crowded at this time. Masks are not a requirement in the city. Body beach is open to the public without permits but there is no camping allowed in city limits. To camp on state lands outside city limits a permit is required. BLM land is open to the public for camping without permits. Both state and BLM lands can be explored without a permit. Spring break is not as big an event as in the past, for college students. Kayaking and paddling boarding are now very popular.

[Hawk J]

Wear a mask to get your food, to go. Eat out on your boat...

Be Safe.

[mrshowtime3]

Originally Posted by citizensadvocate

I am great full this thread remains open. I am surprised it’s very difficult to find any info on Lake Havasu city on city-data.com

Ie I was asking whether it’s a good place to spend winters or live. Maybe aside from the summer heat. I heard the population seem to grow 40% mid fall and shrink as much as 40% by mid May after the spring break season ends. Also whether it’s necessary to get a wilderness permit to explore wilderness places like Body Beach. I seem to see signs that suggest this.

The times I am in Lake Havasu city I noticed the people are far more relaxed in terms of Mask wearing compared to the California side of the border, though keep a mask handy for exceptions though. Especially for those incidental trips to California including to the casino on the ferry in which they do take temperatures in addition to making sure masks are on. Apparently i noticed many stores don’t seem to care too much whether people comply with their mask policies compared with their counterparts in California. Beaware that some Independent store owners might not wear masks at all if you are concerned about unmasked people particularly indoors.

Great place to spend winter. Summer is hot as it gets. If you are worried about covid I would cancel any plans to go to Havasu. You'd be miserable.

[citizensadvocate]

Its interesting based on my experience though when Arizona lifted its restrictions while some venues relax COVID procedures a good number of stores still hang on to the mandates in one way or another and its not just about masks either, no fitting rooms in clothing stores as well, and no lobby access for various fast food places, but when California lifted its restrictions it lead to more mass relaxation with many chain stores own mask mandates and other COVID related restrictions. Apparently many corporate chains base their restrictions on California and other large blue states rather than smaller states.

[jamies]

LOL. Mohave county is the Alabama of Arizona. "Relaxed" is the wrong term. Ignorant is more descriptive. Medical care here is on par with India so for sure most folks and the government ignore mandates and your freedom to get sick and infect others is protected by the right wing local governments. There's even a pizza place up in Golden Valley that won't serve you if you wear a mask, ever voluntarily watched a Biden commercial, or don't have a four foot Gadsen flag on your old pickup truck! And they will sell you one.

And the locals just love the Cali folks filling up their gas cans with our cheap gas before heading home. Come on over, the water's great! Unless you get run over by a jet ski.

(Disclaimer: The above is satire, aka supposed to be humerous, hence the smileys.)