COVID-19 Arkansas

DR BIRX VISITS ARKANSAS -    President Donald Trump's top coronavirus adviser Dr. Deborah Birx paid Little Rock, Arkansas a visit yesterday as part of a 19 city tour she’s conducting to meet with Governors and state and local health officials to see how well each state is handling the Coronavirus pandemic. Speaking before a press conference at the Governor’s Mansion yesterday-  Dr. Birx revealed that a big cause for the recent spikes in Covid-19 has to do with  families and friends holding parties are helping spread the virus.

CONCERNS OVER  REOPENING -  A lot of schools are scheduled to reopen in a few weeks and in Arkansas- it’s August 24th.  However not everyone is on board with that start date. During a meeting of the Arkansas legislative Education Caucus in Little Rock yesterday members of the Arkansas Education Association -- told state lawmakers it is unsafe for schools to return to in-person learning as Arkansas continues to struggle to limit the spread of the coronavirus.  Carol Fleming is the president of the AEA.

ARKANSAS COVID CASES RISE  -    More than 49,000 Arkansans have tested positive for Covid-19. Governor Asa Hutchinson announced on Friday the state saw more than 1,000 positive cases in a single day.  The Covid-19 death toll in Arkansas stands at 544.  During his daily briefing from Little Rock, Hutchinson said he believes the spread of COVID-19 in Arkansas is under control despite the rise in cases.

"Whenever you look at over the last five or six days, it's been very flat," Hutchinson explained. "Obviously today 

ARKANSAS COVID-19 RISING - The state of Arkansas has experienced a steady rise in Covid-19 cases and deaths from  mid June  through July.  Arkansas reported 637 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 Sunday. The Arkansas Department of Health says the new tally bring the state’s total to 43,810 confirmed cases of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.  Officials say the state has a 10% positivity rate for new cases.

ARKANSAS MASK MANDATE - Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says that wearing masks to help stop the spread of the coronavirus shouldn’t be about politics.  Hutchinson has issued a statewide Mask-wearing mandate for Arkansas that goes in effect beginning today.  Hutchinson had resisted following other Governors who had issued state mask mandates but during an appearance  Sunday  on  ABC television’s  “This Week”,  Hutchinson explained his mandate was motivated by the increasing Covid-19 numbers in his state.

ARK COVID-19 -  Arkansas has seen its largest single-day increase in new coronavirus cases among non-incarcerated people.     Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Friday that  703 people tested positive  including 41 inmates at correctional facilities. An additional six deaths from COVID-19 increased the state’s death toll to over 200.   Speaking in his daily briefing, Hutchinson explained the State Department of Health’s Guidelines that strongly recommend people wear face-mask protection in the workplace and in public as doing so would reduce community spread of the disease. 

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  As more state economies re-open during the Coronavirus pandemic,  there have been growing concerns among business owners and operators  about exposure to not just Covid-19 but also to legal liabilities should a customer or employee claim they contracted the illness while  at  the business.  State lawmakers in Arkansas had considered holding a special session to address passing immunity bills however majority support from both house and senate had paved the way for  Governor Asa Hutchinson  to sign  three executive orders yesterday  that included Covid-19

ARKANSAS COVID-19 SPIKE -  Arkansas has hit another one-day record for new coronavirus cases, and the governor says plans to further loosen restrictions on businesses remains on hold because of the spike.  Appearing at a press conference with the Covid-19 update, Governor Asa Hutchinson revealed the numbers.      

"Since yesterday we have an additional 375 cases here in Arkansas which is the highest number of community cases that we've seen in a one-day span of time," Hutchinson explained.

SURGE IN YOUNGER PEOPLE - While health officials have stressed that those who are at most risk for getting the Covid19 illness are elderly and in poor health,  there has been an uptick in cases among younger people.  Such is the case in Arkansas as yesterday Governor Asa Hutchinson revealed some new data during his press conference update on the status of Covid19 in the state.

"The cases grew from 190 on May 17th to 278," explained Hutchinson. "That's a 46% increase among the zero-to-17 (years) age group."
 

ARKANSAS  MEMORIAL SERVICE  -  While  many traditional  Memorial Day ceremonies  had  been canceled  across  the  nation  due  Covid-19  public safety concerns,  there was a smaller event that took place yesterday in Arkansas as Governor Asa Hutchinson took part in a wreath laying ceremony at the Arkansas State  Veterans  Cemetary  in  North  Little  Rock.   Although  the  service  was  not  open to the public, Governor Hutchinson made some remarks as the event was being streamed live on the internet.