Monday COVID Update: Venue Reopenings Announced, Business Grant Pot Rises to $55M

Here are some Key Notes, Statistics, and Video for Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson’s news update on the COVID-19 pandemic, along with updates and guidance from Dr. Nate Smith, Secretary of Health.

The Governor displayed the usual charts to show how cases and hospitalizations are progressing. He then announced some reopening decisions, and gave an update on the Arkansas Ready for Business grant program.

Hutchinson stated that the state is still in Phase 1 of reopening, and that Phase 2 comes of there are 14 consecutive days with no resurgence. With that in mind, the Governor made announcements for three types of reopenings, along with guidance for each one.

1. PLACES OF WORSHIP

Places of worship may reopen May 4th with the guidance listed below. Because of separation of church and state, this is guidance, not a directive. Dr. Nate Smith also made it clear that the guidance regarding places of worship is not meant to force anyone to reopen.

2. LARGE OUTDOOR VENUES

Hutchinson issued a directive for large outdoor venues, effective May 4th.

3. INDOOR VENUES

He also issued a directive for indoor venues, effective May 18th.

“We are taking in a very phase-in approach over this month of May, so let’s be successful, let’s be careful, to make sure we can go into phase two.”

Dr. Smith stated that the directive for large indoor venues does not include casinos. They will have a separate set of circumstances and therefore a separate directive, to be announced soon.

The State Legislature approved $55 million dollars for the Arkansas Ready for Business grant program. The limit was initially $15 million, but the Governor went to the Legislature to ask for more money in the program after the immediate and overwhelming response by applicants. The new application process will go live at 8 a.m. Tuesday May 5th. Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston stated that anyone who applied last week doesn’t need to reapply. He also said that the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services will issue an announcement soon with more information on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

Dr. Smith listed the current statistics for COVID-19 patients below:

81 deaths, up 5
91 hospitalizations, down 7
3,458 total cases, up 27
- 14 new cases in correctional facilities
- 13 new cases in community
2,016 recovered cases
1,362 active cases
1,629 tests, 27 positive
16 on a ventilator, down 3
Cummins State Prison
- 5 inmate deaths
- 873 total cases
- 18 new cases
Forrest City Federal correctional institute
- 172 total cases, up 22
Nursing homes
- 45 facilities
- 31 deaths
- 245 resident cases, up 5
- 147 staff cases, up 1