Arkansas COVID-19 cases up to 1,498

(04/14/20) Arkansas COVID-19 cases up to 1,498  At Governor Asa Hutchinson’s daily COVID-19 press conference, the following updates as of 1:30 p.m. were shared:

• 1,498 total confirmed cases (up 88 from 1,410 on April 13)
• 102 confirmed cases in Garland County (from the ADH COVID-19 status page)
• 1,024 active cases, which discounts recoveries and deaths
• 81 COVID-19 patients in the hospital (up seven)
• 29 patients currently on a ventilator (up one)
• 32 COVID-19-related deaths (up two)
• 206 healthcare workers with COVID-19; 65 have recovered

Gov. Hutchinson announced two executive orders. The first allows first responders and frontline healthcare workers to file for workers compensation claims if there is a causal relationship between catching COVID-19 and their work responsibilities. The second provides liability immunity for medical emergency responders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also shared charts showing that Arkansas is not at its peak in cases, but the data may be showing the state approaching a plateau. “We are not ready to relax our social distancing efforts,” Hutchinson said. “Let me assure everyone that we will make decisions on the best public health advice. Arkansas has positioned itself to fight this battle for the long haul, and we understand this is not a 30-day battle or a 60-day fight, but it will continue in some fashion into the future.”

Dr. Nate Smith shared that a high percentage of total cases in the state involve federal and state prisons (10% of the total cases) and nursing homes (11% of the total cases). With regards to nursing homes, there are a total of 28 statewide with active investigations. There have been 93 residents and 71 workers test positive, and a total of six deaths. This number of deceased is relatively low, said Smith, “partly because of the very aggressive contact investigations going on in these nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.”