MOHAVE COUNTY – Mohave County supervisors emerged from a near 90-minute executive session Monday before approving three coronavirus management motions offered by Buster Johnson, the Board’s senior member. Johnson’s first motion was quickly approved without discussion.
Supervisors agreed that the Board, at least initially, will conduct three special meetings each week to address any COVID-19 pandemic matters necessary. The meetings will be conducted mostly by telephone while the public can view them during live streaming or in play-back mode on the county YouTube channel.
These meetings will be conducted Monday, Wednesday and Friday, beginning at 12:30 p.m. The second Johnson approved motion was to possibly scale back to one meeting each week, upon consultation with Department of Public Health Director Denise Burley.
It was Johnson’s third motion that drew the most discussion. Lawyer Ryan Esplin noted the County Attorney’s office did not support Johnson’s call for providing more specific information about those who are infected with coronavirus due to legal protections of patient confidentiality.
Johnson said an unidentified contact within the Arizona Attorney General’s office said it is permissible. “They had no problem with us doing that,” Johnson said.
The Board agreed they would have the County Supervisor Association ask the Attorney General to formally approve the disclosure. Should that happen the county will indicate whether infected citizens are being treated at home or in a hospital, as well as their community of residence.
- Dave Hawkins
