Governor Asa Hutchinson and Secretary of Health Dr. Nate Smith delivered an update about COVID-19 from the Capitol today. The positive cases in Arkansas jumped up 130 from yesterday. Jackson County is now added to the map of positive counties. Arkansas has not yet reached the peak. April 29th is being shown as one statistic. The Governor said businesses will not be re-opening any time soon. Now is not the time to stop social distancing or wearing masks.
1410 Arkansas total COVID-19 cases
989 active cases
74 hospitalized
28 on a ventilator
30 deaths in total
Dr. Nate Smith addressed the subject of summer camps and said those may not be held this year. Further guidance will be sent out by the ADH in this subject.
Governor Hutchison said that he is developing a medical advisory board for COVID-19 guidance on criteria on when we reach the downward slope of virus cases and to avoid peaks later in the year.
There is an outbreak of COVID-19 at the State prison Cummins. The maximum security unit that hold 46 prisoners, 43 of those have tested positive for COVID-19. At the Federal Corrections Facility in Forrest City 46 inmates, 8 workers, and one contractor have tested positive.
Results by some of our surrounding counties….
Lawrence- 11 positive, 1 death
Randolph- 8 positive
Greene- 6 positive
Craighead- 32 positive
Sharp- 2 positive
Independence- 5 positive
Clay- 1 positive
Izard- 2 positive