Arkansas COVID-19 cases up to 3,321

(05/01/20)  Arkansas COVID-19 cases up to 3,321  At Governor Asa Hutchinson’s daily COVID-19 press conference, the following updates as of 1:30 p.m. were shared:

  • 3,321 total confirmed cases (up 66 from 3,255 on April 30)
  • 1,888 active cases (up four)
  • 1,973 recovered (up 668 due to reclassification of data)
  • 116 confirmed cases in Garland County (from the ADH COVID-19 status page)
  • 95 COVID-19 patients in the hospital (no change)
  • 64 deaths (up three)
  • 23 patients currently on a ventilator (no change)
  • 229 nursing home COVID-19 cases (up seven); 142 staff (up seven)

Gov. Hutchinson announced that on May 6, Phase One of reopening for hair and barber salons, as well as body art and medical spas, that will allow services to resume with the following stipulations: 10 or fewer people in the facility, and larger facilities can have no more than 30% of stations in operation; no walk-in appointments, and clients should wait outside or in cars until their appointment is ready; time allotted between appointments for cleaning; client names and contact information recorded; face coverings required for staff and clients, as services permit; gloves should be worn, and hands should be washed before and after services; screening of staff and clients; postponement of services if any symptoms are present, even if they are attributed to allergies; and cosmetology and barber schools are not included in this phase. The full list of guidelines will be made available on the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) website, healthy.arkansas.gov.

Dr. Nate Smith shared that a COVID-19 Dental Advisory Group is being appointed to help prepare and give input on directives to allow restrictions to begin to be lifted on dental work on May 18.

Dr. Michelle Smith, director of Health Equity and HIV Elimination, provided information about the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundations recently launched COVID Relief Initiative that will provide many grants, up to $1,000, to organizations addressing hardships associated with COVID-19. There will also be a free seminar to help salons and barber shops help reduce the spread of COVID-19 transmission among employees and customers from 6-7:30 p.m. on May 5. More information will be available on the ADH website.