Governor announces Winter Task Force
Total new COVID-19 cases surpass 2,300 in Natural State
During a special news briefing Friday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced the creation of the Governor’s COVID-19 Winter Task Force.
“The winter months pose a particular challenge for us,” Hutchinson said, noting hospitalizations and cases are increasing not only in Arkansas but across the country.
Hutchinson will serve as the chair for the task force with Arkansas Surgeon General Greg Bledsoe serving as vice chair. The remaining members of the task force are medical leaders from across the state.
The task force will look at hospital capacities in the state and what more could be done to help manage and coordinate relief for hospitals and staff.
The job of the task force will be to advise Hutchinson and make recommendations. The Arkansas Department of Health will continue to lead the state’s response to the pandemic.
Hutchinson expressed concern that the number of hospitalizations in the state are putting a strain on hospital staff.
“What can we do to help with that?” Hutchinson asked.
Another concern Hutchinson said is facing hospitals is recruiters from other states luring away staff.
The task force will focus on four areas — how to coordinate the COVID-19 caseload across the state, how the state can assist to increase staff resources, what additional steps the state should make to strengthen the mask mandate and how to redistribute high caseloads.
In stead of waiting for a report, like with his other task forces, Hutchinson said action will be taken as needed.
In addition to the task force, Hutchinson announced the state will be contributing an additional $1.6 million to marketing to educate and encourage citizens to take the pan
demic seriously and follow the mandates.
Hutchinson has authorized 30 members of the Arkansas National Guard to be called into service to assist the Arkansas Department of Health with virus investigations.
Hutchinson said the state had a combined 2,312 confirmed and probable new cases Friday. Hospitalizations rose by 21 to 826 and deaths increased by four to 1,968 confirmed.
Both he said are new record highs.
Hutchinson was adamant that he has no intention of closing the state. He said no one knows what the future holds, but he is committed to keeping the state’s economy open.
He was asked about recommendations from the ADH to close the state. He and Secretary of State Jose Romero said ADH did not make that recommendation, but instead, provided the governor a list of possible options that included closing the state. Romero said that was never an actual recommendation.
Hutchinson believes if people wash their hands, wear a mask and socially distance there is no need to close the state.
“It is personal responsibility and personal care for others,” Romero said.
He added that recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows masks do in fact provide some protection for the person wearing them.
Bledsoe later in the briefing said he has personally seen the importance and effectiveness of masks. In addition to his role as surgeon general, he has spent the pandemic working on the front lines caring for COVID-19 patients. He has seen the use of face masks reduce the risk of transmission.
Bledsoe has also seen COVID-19 first hand in his own family. He and six other members of his family all came down with the virus and experienced it differently. While he, his wife and his mother had mild symptoms, his father had to be hospitalized for 10 days.
He expressed concern for the strain on hospitals as the weather gets into winter. He encouraged following all health guidelines along with getting a flu shot to help reduce the need for hospital space.
“It starts primarily with prevention,” Bledsoe said.
Hutchinson said he spoke with a representative of Walmart that told him they are reinforcing efforts to require masks in stores. He encouraged other businesses to follow suit.