Coronavirus cases hit 96 in state

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Arkansas soared to 96 on Friday, including 13 new cases connected to a Little Rock nursing home.

Four staff and nine residents at Briarwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center are among the positive cases, Health Secretary Nate Smith said.

He said there was one additional, initial positive case from the nursing home whose diagnosis triggered the testing of the 13 individuals.

The health department said it is testing all other staff and residents at the Briarwood facility.

A news release from the department also states one person from Apple Creek Nursing and Rehab in Centerton and one from the Villages of General Baptist West in Pine Bluff have also tested positive.

There were 62 known cases of COVID-19 in Arkansas on Thursday. The jump to 96 is the biggest one-day spike in known cases since the outbreak began.

Education Secretary Johnny Key announced Friday at the same news conference that Arkansas will be applying with the federal government to waive standardized testing requirements for the state. The Trump administration lifted testing requirements for states earlier Friday.

Key said he expects the waiver to be approved and that testing will be cancelled for the year. Schools are using remote instruction until at least April 17.

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced at the same briefing that an additional $3 million will be added to a loan program for small businesses. Gov. Asa Hutchinson previously announced $4 million for the fund.