Governor Asa Hutchinson and Dr. Nathaniel Smith, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health, Confirm 142 New Cases of COVID-19 (117 from Cummings prison unit) for a total of 1923 total Confirmed Cases in Arkansas with 890 total tests given yesterday and 1133 active cases as of 1:30 pm as of April 20, 2020.
At the time of this press Conference, the total was 1923 (244 are health care workers, 115 have recovered), and 93 Hospitalized, 24 ICU Patients and 128 are in nursing homes. 749 people have recovered.
(These numbers are From 4-20-2020 news conference) it breaks out as 61 children under the age of 18, 121 age 18-24, 568 age 25-44, 643 age 45-64, 382 over 65, (50% are women, 50% are men)
Notes from today’s news conference
Arkansas is one of the top state test per month per 1,000 people by state
Our goal is not just contact testing to more surveillance testing
We are fighting the COVID-19 everyday, we must keep our social restrictions
Grandparents and Grandchildren (those contacts of those adults over 65 is at phase 3 of lifting restrictions)
Child Abuse Awareness Month (Hotline 1-844-SAVE-A-Child available 24/7)
May 4, 2020, date Arkansas is looking to lift some restrictions but, we will be still social distancing and if you can not social distance wear a mask
Counties confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Timeless 106.1 KFFB listening area (these numbers are from Monday’s News Conference 4-20-2020):
Pulaski County 384 positive cases, 1,730 negative cases, Recoveries 122, 12 Deaths
Cleburne County 71 positive, 129 negative cases, Recoveries 49, 4 Deaths
Faulkner County 62 positive, 973 negative cases, 42 Recoveries, 2 Death
White County 29 positive, 284 negative cases, 15 Recoveries, 0 Deaths
Van Buren County 26 positive, 211 negative cases, 21 Recoveries, 2 Death
Lonoke County 26 positive, 323 negative cases, 16 Recoveries, 0 Deaths
Pope County 35 positive, 1,187 negative cases, 16 Recoveries, 0 Deaths
Stone County 7 positive, 63 negative cases, 6 Recoveries, 0 Deaths
Searcy County 6 positive, 91 negative cases, 2 Recovery, 0 Deaths
Independence County 8 positive, 99 negative cases, 4 Recoveries, 0 Deaths
Conway County 5 positive, 199 negative cases, 2 Recovery, 1 Death
Baxter County 5 positive, 158 negative cases, 1 Recovery, 0 Death
Sharp County 2 positive, 25 negative cases, 1 Recovery, 0 Death
Izard County 2 positive, 31 negative cases, 1 Recovery, 0 Death
Notes from past News Conferences
Those of Arkansas COVID-19, 197 are diabetic, 126 heart disease, 77 lung disease
8 of Arkansas COVID-19 deaths are over the Age 65
An executive order “to establish The Economic Recovery Task Force “
10 Million dollars will be going to Rural Hospitals
The President has set guidelines for opening up the economy for each state, with Proposed State or Regional gating Criteria
May 4, 2020, is the target date for opening up the economy by lifting some restrictions during Phase 1
Under Phase One- Encourage Telework, Return to work in Phases, Close Common Areas, Minimize Non-Essential Travel, Strongly consider Special Accommodations for personnel who are members of a Vulnerable Population
Number of ER visits for Coronavirus is another criteria for opening up the economy in Arkansas
Dr. Smith says we must be careful of a resurgence of COVID-19 if we are to open up our economy.
New website for unemployment ARunemployment.com (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Email Alert System scan me code on the new website)
Extended hours for unemployment hotline
SBA loans for the payroll protection plan is one reason we see a leveling off of unemployment
COVID-19 is very highly contagious
This is a Health Crisis and Economic crisis
Arkansas did receive the approval for direct care worker payments
Arkansas is not at our peak for COVID-19
Arkansas is one of the lowest total deaths per 100,000 in the Nation
Arkansas has tried to decrease travel from out of state recreational travelers, they had just added Message Boards on State highways.
Executive order First Responsors and front line health care workers can file for workers comp claim because of COVID-19
Executive order Liability of immunity of medical emergency responders because of COVID-19
Our social distancing is working continue and if you can not social distance wear a mask
Schools will remain closed for the remainder of the School year, no in-school instruction, Sr’s will graduate, AMI will be continuing, for 2019-2020 school year
Executive order for commercial lodging and hotels – no recreational travelers allowed
Golfing is allowed with restrictions
Dr. Smith encouraging folks to be outside because of ultraviolet light decreases transmission for a wide variety of germs
If you think you have CORID-19 do not go to the Doctor or Emergency Room you must call UAMS first 800-632-4520
If you are unemployed text the word, “unemployment” to 501-376-1111
State Parks will be closed for overnight visitors to day time only
The highest risk demographic are those over 65 and those with medically compromised condition
ADH has activated a call center to answer questions from health care providers and the public about the novel coronavirus. During normal business hours (8:00 am – 4:30 pm), urgent and non-urgent calls, please call 1-800-803-7847 or email ADH.CoronaVirus@arkansas.gov. After normal business hours and weekend calls, needing immediate response, please call 1-800-554-5738.
ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COVID-19 WEBSITE
Watch Monday’s April 20, 2020, News Conference with Governor Asa Hutchinson
