Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services

With Gov. Doug Ducey looking on, Dr. Cara Christ speaks at a press conference on Sept. 24, 2020.

The head of the Arizona Department of Health Services said she doesn’t know what indicators will be used to decide when the COVID-19 health emergency is over.

Dr. Cara Christ testified Thursday at a hearing in Maricopa County Superior Court. She said even if the state hits the benchmarks for a minimal level of spread, that doesn’t mean she’ll recommend that the governor call off his emergency orders.

"It's a little bit difficult because those benchmarks weren't established to determine the end of the public health emergency," Christ said. "They were really established to set benchmarks for businesses to be able to open and schools to go back into session."

During the hearing, Christ was questioned by a representative of the more than 100 bar owners who are unable to reopen and operate the way they used to due to the declared emergency.

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