Governor visits Hope, announces emergency virus order extension
Miller County’s COVID-19 positivity rate highest in state
HOPE, Ark. — Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced a 60-day extension of his emergency order regarding the COVID-19 pandemic during a press conference at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana Tuesday afternoon.
Hutchinson signed the order yesterday. It came on the week of the seven month anniversary of when he initially issued it on March 11.
“I’m doing this because COVID-19 continues to be a global pandemic that’s costing lives,” Hutchinson said. “And globally, you see the cases rising, but you also see here in the United States that the deaths and hospitalizations continue and that we have emergencies declared in all 50 states. So the emergency continues in Arkansas, as well.
“With the number of cases and with the deaths and hospitalizations we have, I think every health care worker particularly would understand the necessity of this emergency.”
Hutchinson said the order allows students to continue to have the option for virtual learning and that it provides small business relief through liability immunity, telemedicine with Medicaid reimbursements and the ability for e-signatures in remote, corporate meetings.
During his COVID data updates, Hutchinson highlighted a trend of increased cases among rural counties in Arkansas during the past two weeks.
As far as locally, positivity rates are high in Miller County.
Over the past 14 days, the county’s 18.3% positivity rate is the highest among any in the state.
Lafayette is at 15.3%, Little River at 12.3%, Howard at 10% and Sevier and Hempstead counties are at 9.5%.
Statewide, Hutchinson announced there are 680 additional cases in the state as of Tuesday afternoon. This includes 481 confirmed cases and 199 probable cases.
According to State Epidemiologist Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, Arkansas’s cumulative positivity rate is now at 7.6%.
According to Hutchinson, 24 additional people have died due to the coronavirus as of Tuesday afternoon, bringing the number of confirmed deaths in the state to 1,462.
Dillaha pointed out that five of these deaths were in nursing homes, highlighting concern about the vulnerability of the state’s older population.
Hutchinson said hospitalizations have dropped by three to 605.
According to state officials, 1,472 antigen tests were completed Monday. Hutchinson said he is proud of the high testing numbers in Arkansas currently.
State officials also say the Arkansas Department of Health has inspected restaurants and have seen a 96% compliance rate to COVID regulations.