First ‘presumptive positive’ case of virus found in state
Schools, nursing homes ramping up efforts to halt spread of COVID-19
The Arkansas Department of Health held a press conference Wednesday afternoon following Jefferson Regional Medical Center’s announcement of a patient with a “presumptive positive” case of COVID-19.
The hospital announced via Facebook that the Centers for Disease Control was working to confirm the case, and that the hospital is following all
CDC and other preventative guidelines to protect patients, visitors and employees.
According to the World Health Organization, or W.H.O., COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illness in animals or humans. Many of these are known to cause respiratory infections, like the common cold, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), according to W.H.O.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson declared a public health emergency yesterday afternoon and imposed restrictions for state officials’ travel; cabinet secretaries must now approve any out-of-state travel by their employees, with travel endorsements pending ADH approval and depending on the urgency of travel. He noted that state officials do not currently need to work remotely, but said plans are in place if it does become necessary.
Secretary of Health Dr. Nate Smith and Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, medical director of immunizations and outbreak response, spoke during the conference and said Arkansans should be aware of COVID-19, but shouldn’t be any more concerned than they were the day before the presumptive positive.
During the press conference,
Smith said he and Dillaha would not be giving out information about the patient, but did say the patient is receiving treatment. Smith said they think the patient
may have acquired the virus through state travel and are currently working to determine secondary traces, or those who may have been exposed to the virus.
Dillaha said the disease is spread through coughing or sneezing and making contact with what’s dispersed. Those within about six-feet of the area could be at risk, making it important to remember to cough or sneeze into the elbow rather than the hand, wash one’s hands often and for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching one’s face and use hand sanitizer.
Smith said if the hospital and ADH’s labs confirm the test is positive, the sample will be sent to the CDC for further confirmation.
He also said all Arkansans should take their travel plans into consideration.
The incubation period for COVID-19, which is the time someone is infected to the time they show symptoms, ranges from three to six days. For those who think they are showing symptoms, Smith said he recommends calling a primary doctor for an over-the-phone diagnosis and allow the outcome to determine if it’s time to go get tested.
“I would say (Arkansas is a) low risk state, but we need to be vigilant like we always are for a variety of health threats,” Smith said.
He said it’s important for people not to underreact, but not to overreact either.
State Sen. Trent Garner (R-District 27), whose district encompasses parts of both Union and Jefferson counties, said he has been in touch with state officials about the potential case and believes there’s no reason to panic.
“While this is a serious issue, I think it’s been dealt with in the best possible way,” he said. “I think that this is a real issue, but something that people should not panic about and I think if we continue to work together on this, things are going to turn out OK.”
Garner said he did not personally visit Pine Bluff yesterday in order to stay out of health officials’ way. However, he plans to play a support role for his constituents in Jefferson County by acting as a liaison between residents and state officials.
“If they need assistance or aid or information … they can call me directly,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll have more actions in the coming days and I plan on being a large part of that.”
He said if any constituents have questions, concerns or information to share about the local COVID-19 case, to call him on his personal cell phone at 870-818-9219.
El Dorado High School’s Nurse Janet Scarlett spoke at the district’s Board meeting Monday about steps local schools are taking to prevent COVID-19 exposure and spread among students.
“I’ve got the hot topic,” Scarlett joked. “We’re learning more and more about this every day.”
Guidelines issued to students and staff members include staying home when one is sick and staying separate from others at school if one believes they are sick.
If a student or staff member has traveled outside of the country in the past two weeks and exhibits symptoms while at school, they will be quarantined until they are able to leave campus. Those that must interact with them will wear protective equipment including masks, gloves and medical gowns.
Otherwise, Scarlett said, students and staff are being asked to observe common preventative actions like regular hand washing, covering one’s mouth when coughing or sneezing and routinely cleaning frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, light switches and counter tops.
“There is currently no vaccine to protect against the COVID-19; at this point, the best way to prevent infection is to prevent being exposed to the virus that causes it,” she said. “Stopping transmission of the virus through every day practices is the best way to keep people healthy.”
Scarlett said resources and information will be shared with the families of district students as they become available. District staff will be regularly updated on any updates about COVID-19. The preventative guidelines are based on CDC guidance, Scarlett said.
South Arkansas Community College President Dr. Bentley Wallace said school officials are paying close attention to local and regional developments concerning the virus and that school officials plan to follow Hutchinson’s recommendation that state employees not travel outside of Arkansas for the next 60 days. Additionally, the school’s custodial staff is receiving special training to ensure they are equipped to sanitize and disinfect common areas on SouthArk campuses.
“We are meeting to discuss our emergency plans and adding information to our emergency response plan at the college regarding pandemics. And we’re working with our two-year college partners around the state to learn what their response is and react similarly to the best practives we see around the state,” Wallace said. “Everyone appears to be working from an abundance of caution and making sure that we keep the health and welfare of our students, faculty and staff at the forefront of everything that we do.”
Wallace said should the situation locally warrant it, SouthArk leadership will consider moving classes off campus, to a mixture of online learning and “other creative ways to continue the learning environment that don’t require the students to come to campus.” However, the school’s campuses will remain open now.
The University of Arkansas at Monticello announced yesterday that their campuses in Monticello, Crossett and McGehee will be closed through March 30, though classes will continue online.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff also announced Wednesday evening that the institution will also offer online-only instruction through March 30 due to an abundance of caution, although there have been no confirmed cases among campus faculty, students or staff, according to a press release. Campus activities and athletic events are also canceled through March 30. According to the release, Arkansas Department of Health Director Nate Smith said the university’s risk to faculty, staff and students is low.
The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville has asked their faculty to prepare to deliver classes online through the same date should it become necessary there. UA’s vice chancellor and director of athletics Hunter Yurachek released a statement Wednesday evening saying Razorbacks Athletics will move ahead with planned team travel and competition with additional precautionary measures. In the statement, Yurachek said only essential personnel will be in the traveling parties, and no commercial travel will be used for competition.
Southern Arkansas University announced yesterday evening that they too have a contingency plan in place that will involve closing campus and moving to online classes for a period should it become necessary. The school’s Risk Management Task Force advises against outof-country travel.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of W.H.O., declared COVID-19 as a pandemic during a media briefing Wednesday morning.
During the briefing, Tedros said there are more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries, and 4,291 people have died.
The first case in the United States was reported in Washington state in January with the first U.S. death reported Feb. 29. New York According to a Times article, Dr. Helen Y. Chu, an infectious disease expert in Seattle, began monitoring and testing for coronavirus in January following the first confirmed American case.
According to W.H.O., there are 696 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of Wednesday.
Business Insider reported Wednesday that the long-term care facility linked to 19 deaths in Washington state had been battling a coronavirus outbreak for weeks.
The CDC reported that older adults and those with heart disease, diabetes or lung disease are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
According to the Associated Press, via the Tacoma News Tribune, nursing homes and other facilities for the elderly throughout the nation are preparing for the coronavirus by stockpiling masks and thermometers and screening visitors — El Dorado is no exception.
The Timberlane Health and Rehabilitation Center, located at 2002 Timberwood Road, is screening all visitors to the center.
Administrator Toni Holderfield said there’s always a sign asking those who don’t feel well to return home, but now visitors are asked a series of questions regarding fever, international travel and more.
“The CDC and Arkansas Department of Health … are encouraging folks to set up screening stations coming in, all visitors, because our elderly are so atrisk of underlying health issues,” Holderfield said.
The only access door into the center is through the front door. The facility has also restricted visiting hours to 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. with someone ready at all time to screen visitors.
Holderfield said anyone who answers yes to the screening won’t be allowed in. Those who have questions for the facility may call at 870-863-8090.
To avoid the illness, the CDC recommends avoiding close contact with anyone who is sick, washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places, avoid touching the face, avoid crowds and avoid all non-essential travel.