News and Updates
Latest Updates
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Governor Hutchinson Creates Advisory Group To Advise High School Sports During Pandemic
Governor Asa Hutchinson has appointed 14 physicians, mental health professionals, coaches, and educators to the High School Sports Advisory Group, which he created to consider the safest way to conduct sports and activities for the 2020-2021 school year. The Department of Health will continue its re
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Governor Hutchinson Announces $10 Million for Wi-Fi Access Devices for Arkansas Schools
Governor Asa Hutchinson announced today the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) has signed agreements with AT&T and T-Mobile to purchase Wi-Fi access points and data plans at a reduced cost for every school district in the state. Students will receive the devices and internet access at no cos
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Gov. Hutchinson to Implement Statewide Mask Mandate – Effective July 20
Published by Talk Business and Politics – July 16, 2020 Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Thursday (July 16) issued a statewide mandate requiring the use of a face mask, citing the rising number of cases and input from healthcare workers, legislators and others who said it is necessary to address the spread of
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Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Voting in the Age of COVID-19
The leaders of the major political parties in Arkansas are united in their determination to assure everyone can cast their ballot in November safely and securely. Under state law, a voter who can’t vote in person on Election Day because of travel, illness, or physical disability may cast an absentee
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Answer the Call: ADH Contact Tracers May Reach Out
When a patient tests positive for COVID-19, case investigators and contact tracers work backwards to trace where the person has been and who has potentially been exposed. This work is called contact tracing, and it’s a critical step toward containing the spread of the virus. It means that a contact
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Arkansas Adult Survey Conducted by Runway Group
The Runway Group recently commissioned a survey to measure responses to COVID-19. The questionnaire incudes topics regarding the use of Personal Protective Equipment, the 2020-2021 school year and sentiment regarding the state's reopening. The statewide survey was conducted by Gilmore Strategy Group
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Governor Hutchinson Announces Cities May Implement Mandatory Mask Ordinance
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson announced cities across the state may implement an ordinance requring mandatory face coverings to help curb the spread of COVID-19 by signing Executive Order 20-41 on Friday. "This provides a local option for cities to give them more flexibility if they have a c
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Statement from Steuart Walton, Chairman, Arkansas Economic Recovery Task Force on Governor’s Proclamation on Mask Ordinances
July 3, 2020 “Governor Hutchinson’s balanced approach of giving cities the option to enact mask ordinances where most needed helps us protect the health of Arkansans and ensure the economy can continue to recover.”
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Summer Safety: Fireworks, Food, Swim, Heat, and COVID-19
The Fourth of July is coming up this week, so it’s an important time to remember firework, food, swim and heat safety along with precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. COVID-19 Precautions Arkansans are advised to wear face coverings in both indoor and outdoor environments where they are exp
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Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Arkansans Getting Back on Their Feet
LITTLE ROCK – We started reopening the economy in May, and today I’d like to talk about the encouraging numbers that we’re already seeing. More than 45,000 Arkansans are back at work. Our unemployment rate, which has remained below the national rate, dropped from 10.8 percent in April to 9.5 percent
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Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | The Wait for Nursing Home Visits is Almost Over
LITTLE ROCK – We set a goal to test every resident and staff member in long-term-care in June, and today I’m pleased to say that nursing homes, and assisted-living and residential-care facilities will be able to resume limited family visits and other activities on July 1 if they have complied with t
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Governor Hutchinson Issues Executive Orders on Medical Immunity, Business Liability, and Workers Compensation Coverage
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson issued executive orders today that clarify Workers Compensation Law during the public-health emergency, protect health care providers from liability, and exempt businesses from liability related to the spread of COVID-19. “I want to thank the General Assembly fo
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The Arkansas Economy in the Time of COVID-19
Dr. Mervin Jebaraj, Director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, delivered a report to the Arkansas Recovery Task Force on June 8, 2020. Dr. Jebaraj detailed the impact that COVID-19 has had on Arkansas's unemployment rates, consumer spending an
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Contact Tracing in Arkansas
Case investigation and contact tracing, a core disease control measure employed by local and state health department personnel for decades, is a key strategy for preventing further spread of COVID-19. This control method is a significant part of the process of supporting patients and warning contact
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Governor Announces New COVID-19 Advisory Board To Review Testing Contact-Tracing Technology
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson has created the COVID-19 Technical Advisory Board to review and evaluate new technologies as the state’s public health agencies develop strategies for testing and contact tracing, the governor announced at his daily COVID-19 press briefing today. “Two of the mos
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Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Coming Back from the Health and Economic Crisis
LITTLE ROCK – The Economic Recovery Task Force has submitted its interim report to me, and today I’d like to talk about some of the steps we need to take to boost our economy after COVID-19. The report paints an accurate picture of COVID’s impact on the state. For example, it notes 5,500 jobs were l
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Interim Report from the Arkansas Economic Recovery Task Force
Click here to view the interim report on the work underway to restore Arkansas’s economy.
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COVID-19 testing events planned across state
Little Rock, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Health will host a series of drive-thru COVID-19 testing events at locations across the state beginning this Friday. At each event, there will be no out-of-pocket cost for the tests, and tests will be offered to anyone who wants to be tested regardless
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Local Health Units to offer COVID-19 testing
Little Rock, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Health’s Local Health Units across the state will offer COVID-19 testing beginning Monday. Testing is encouraged for all individuals who believe they have had contact with or been exposed to a positive case as well as anyone who is experiencing symptoms
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Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Testing: A Critical Part of Fighting the Virus
LITTLE ROCK – Today I’d like to talk about our COVID-19 testing and a new partnership with the Arkansas Community Health Centers. In an effort to flatten the curve and increase testing for COVID-19, I have consistently encouraged individuals with a simple message: “If you think you have symptoms, do
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