Mohave County in northwestern Arizona has been reporting record high COVID-19 infections. Last week, the county reported 1,281 new cases. That's nearly three times as many as the county reported at its summer peak.
Hospital leaders in the region say that’s straining resources.
“The surge is real and we are seeing many more COVID positive patients," Will McConnell, CEO of Kingman Regional Medical Center, said in a Tuesday press conference. "That has now transitioned into our own staff and this month we've had 96 staff members contract COVID.”
Mohave County supervisors are considering a vote to declare the county a “constitutional sanctuary” in reaction to COVID-19 emergency measures from the governor.
The county does not have mask mandate in place.
"I understand people's reluctance to go down the road of a mask mandate but I also see how it did help in each of these communities that chose to go that direction," said county health director Denise Burley.
