By Ray King
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson on Thursday announced what he called a “Two-Day Surge” campaign, designed to locate additional people in the state who have COVID19 and don’t know it.
Speaking at his daily press conference on the Corona virus, the Governor said the surge will take place Friday and Saturday.
“If you think you have symptoms, don’t wait, get tested,” he said, adding that the goal of the two-days of testing is to increase the number of daily tests from 1,000 per day to 1,500 per day.
Asked about people who don’t have health insurance, Hutchinson said “If they want to get a test they get a test. There’s not a cost and not a reason (not to get tested).”
State Health Officer Dr. Nate Smith said there are a variety of federal programs that can pay for testing and Dr. Cam Patterson, chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) said while UAMS is collecting insurance information, “there are no expectations to get payment up front.”
Between Wednesday and Thursday, an additional 189 cases of the Corona virus were reported, bringing the state’s totals to 2,465. Of the new cases, 122 of them were from the Maximum Security unit at Cummins Prison. Three additional deaths were reported, bringing the state’s total to 45 and 101 people are hospitalized.
Regarding Cummins Prison specifically, Smith said there are now 687 inmates and 35 staff who have tested -positive for COVID-19 and additional testing is taking place. He also reported that a team from the Centers for Disease Control was on-site at the Federal Correctional Institute at Forrest City where 75 inmates and 10 staff members have tested positive.
With the Governor of Oklahoma announcing that some restrictions will be relaxed in that state, Hutchinson was asked if that was a concern for Arkansas and said he has already set some clear guidelines for reopening businesses in the state, such as on April 29 when he will announce his plans for dine-in restaurants.
“We’re not going to be stampeded into two quick a decision,” the Governor said. “We are going to do what is right for Arkansas.”
He also said that even as he lifts some restrictions, others like social distancing, wearing a mask when social distancing is not possible and avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people will remain in place.
