COVID-19 Arkansas

ARKANSAS COVID CONCERNS:  According to the latest report from the Arkansas State Department of Health, Arkansas has had 41 more Covid-19 related deaths, bringing the state’s total to 6,539 since the pandemic began, three of those deaths  include  children.  Right now just over 1400  Arkansans  are hospitalized.

  ARKANSAS MASK BAN INJUNCTION — Last week Arkansas lawmakers were called into special session by Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson to consider his proposal to amend a bill he recently signed into law that banned any mask mandate made by any state agency,  including school boards. Appearing on  CBS Face The Nation yesterday, Governor  Asa  Hutchinson  explained  why  he changed  his position on the bill he signed into law.     

EMERGENCY DECLARATION - Arkansas has reported 42 new COVID-19 deaths and its biggest one-day spike in hospitalizations since the pandemic began. The Department of Health on Monday reported 81 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, bringing the state's total to 1,220.   The department said 451 of those patients are under intensive care and 250 are on ventilators.  The state's coronavirus hospitalizations are nearing the high set last January.  Gov.

ARKANSAS COVID RISES-  Arkansas’ Covid-19  cases have skyrocketed in recent weeks due to the delta variant and the state’s low vaccination rate.

ARKANSAS COVID RATES UP -  As More cases of covid-19 get reported  all across the country,  most attributes  the  latest spread  to the new Delta variant of the Coronavirus.   Arkansas currently leads the nation in new infections per-capita and the rate of hospitalizations is also on the increase.  A year ago before a  vaccine was available,  health experts warned of those who were most at risk for succumbing  to the virus.  The focus was to protect the most vulnerable,  the elderly who likely had pre-existing health conditions, usually people over the age of 60.  But  duri

ARKANSAS COVID UPDATE —  Arkansas  Governor Asa Hutchinson  held a press conference yesterday to give an update on how well his state has been dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.   He had some sobering news as Covid-19  hospitalizations  have  shown  a  spike  lately.

“This is the largest increase in hospitalizations since January. It is the largest increase in hospitalizations since we’ve had the vaccination available to prevent hospitalizations. And we have 55 added to the hospital rolls as a result of COVID-19,” Hutchinson said.

ARK J&J VACCINES — Arkansas health officials say nearly 60,000 doses of the state's Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine are nearing their expiration date and would have to be discarded if not used.  Arkansas’ State epidemiologist  expects most of the vaccine will be administered rather than discarded as the earlier expiring doses are being moved to vaccination sites around the state for use.   

EMERGENCY DECLARATION  TO EXPIRE— Arkansas' governor says he won't seek another extension of the emergency he declared because of the coronavirus pandemic, allowing it to expire at the end of the month. Governor Asa Hutchinson on Thursday said the declaration that he first issued in March 2020 because of the pandemic will expire on May 30.

PANEL FOR CORONAVIRUS RELIEF—Arkansas Governor  Asa Hutchinson has formed a panel to come up with ways to spend the $1.5 billion dollars  the state is receiving from the latest federal coronavirus relief package. Democrats passed the bill in Congress without a Republican vote through the budget reconciliation process.   The Republican governor on Tuesday signed an order creating a 14-member steering committee for the state’s share of the $1.9 trillion relief measure that became law in March.