Bret Jaspers/KJZZ

Will Humble

The state health department reported 783 new coronavirus cases March 8 but no deaths, although there is usually lag data due to the weekend. More than 800,000 cases have been reported since the pandemic began a year ago. But the decline in case numbers overall and the increase in vaccinations has some people feeling optimistic life can return to normal.

Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order on March 5 that ends the limits on occupancy for certain businesses that had been in effect due to the ongoing pandemic. That includes restaurants, gyms, water parks, some bars, theaters and bowling alleys.

But the governor says mitigation methods will still be in place, including physical distancing and masking.

So how much will actually change with this new order? For more about that, The Show spoke with Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association and former director of the state Department of Health Services.

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