Arkansas lifts most of its coronavirus safety restrictions

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Friday lifted most of the safety restrictions it placed on businesses to curb the spread of coronavirus, and said he'll end a mask mandate next month if the state's test positivity or hospitalizations are low.

Hutchinson announced the rollback of the safety rules as he extended the public health emergency he declared last year because of the coronavirus pandemic until the end of March. The governor announced the move as he's faced pushback from some fellow Republicans in the Legislature over the state's virus safety rules.

The limits being lifted include capacity limits for bars, restaurants, gyms and large venues. Hutchinson left open the possibility of reinstating the restrictions if there's another surge in cases.

Hutchinson said the mask mandate will be lifted at the end of March if the the state's positivity rate is below 10 percent, with at least 7,500 specimens tested on an average daily basis. If the state tests fewer specimens, the mandate would end if hospitalizations are below 750 patients.

Arkansas has recently seen a drop in new cases and hospitalizations.