By Laura Gómez | Arizona Mirror
Public health authorities have warned against large gatherings and said that older Americans have a high risk falling seriously ill from the coronavirus, but the Arizona Legislature — where 30 of 90 lawmakers meet that age-based risk factor — will continue to meet through the end of the week.
In the Senate, 13 of the 30 lawmakers are at least 60 years old. In the House of Representatives, 17 of the 60 legislators are at least 60 years old. The median age of all Arizona lawmakers is 55.
State legislators met Tuesday afternoon to continue work on a budget to keep state agencies operating. After that work is done, it is unclear if the legislature will end its work for the year or suspend its session until a later date.
Senate President Karen Fann, R-Prescott, said lawmakers and staff are following CDC guidelines to “be as prudent and cautious as possible” as the state and nation takes up measures to help prevent the infection and spread of the coronavirus pandemic, which causes the COVID-19 disease.
But she said lawmakers must meet.
