By: Ray King

An additional 23 people have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus in the past 24 hours, according to Governor Asa Hutchinson.

At his daily news conference on the coronavirus pandemic Saturday, Hutchinson said the total is now 404, and there have been two additional deaths, bringing the total in the state to five.

State Health Officer Dr. Nate Smith said one of those who died was in their 70’s while the other was in their 40’s, and both died in central Arkansas.

Of those testing positively, 15 have been children, 130 who are 65 and older and the remaining 259 between 19 and 64.

So far, 2,938 individuals have tested negative.

Smith said there have been no cases of a positive test in any Arkansas prison facility and said he was keeping in direct contact with the Department of Corrections to ensure that and suspected case receive priority testing.

The governor said that while testing has been expanded at the Department of Health, at UAMS and privately, the supply of testing material is running low and currently, some of the testing is being done manually which slows the process.

“We’re fighting a national shortage and the supply chain,” Hutchinson said. Later in the press conference, Hutchinson was asked if he had reached out to the federal government about the testing supplies and he said yes, and said he has also reached out to the private sector directly.

Over the past week, 30,000 people have filed for unemployment, a number Hutchinson called “unprecedented.”

He also asked the state’s residents not to “give up on work” even though a number of businesses have been shut down because of fears about the virus.

“There will be other businesses looking for employees,” Hutchinson said.

Second District Congressman French Hill of Little Rock also spoke about the CARES Act, which was approved by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump Friday. Hill said within three weeks, the federal government will be sending out stimulus checks of $1,200 to adults and $750 for children and the only requirement to receive a check is to have a social security number.

Asked if he was considering sheltering in place as some other states have done, Hutchinson said his goal is to keep businesses in the state in operation. Late in the week, the state health department issued a directive banning  more than 10 people from indoor and enclosed outdoor events until further notice and the governor said the directive gives law enforcement agencies the authority to deal with crowds of more than 10 people who are at a gathering or event.

“Sometimes, people need a friendly reminder,” he said.