Covid-19 Report: Ages 16+ now allowed vaccine; Mask mandate lifted today, with stipulations for schools

In the Covid-19 update on Monday, Governor Asa Hutchinson said more vaccine doses are coming, the mask mandate ends today, but with some specifics for schools, and residents age 16 and older are now eligible to get a vaccine in Arkansas. Read more on all of this below.

The Governor stated that he was advised in a call with a White House Coronavirus Task Force today that all the states and territories would receive an additional 5.4 million doses of vaccine, and the supply chain continues to increase. He said Arkansas will receive around 25,000 additional doses of the vaccine this week and an increased level for the next three weeks.

He said that although he is lifting the masked mandate, however he still promotes using them. “This does not mean that the use of the mask will cease. This mask I wore today will continue to be a part of my wardrobe, because there will be many times during the day that I will wear it,” he stated. “While I’ve been vaccinated, it’s important to be courteous to others and to be mindful that we need to protect ourselves and others. Common sense should govern.”

He noted that individual businesses and organizations may still opt for a mask policy within their facility, in order to protect their employees. This includes, but it’s not limited to:

Restaurants
Hotels
Government Buildings
Salons and Barber Shops
Stores
Event Venues
Schools
Department of Corrections
Hospitals and Healthcare Providers

The Governor also announced that as of today, all Arkansans age 16 and over are eligible to get vaccinated. He stressed that it may take some time to get an appointment, but that it is open to those ages, regardless of health. He also reiterated that there is a State Vaccine Help Line to call for help finding vaccine providers. That toll-free number is:

1-800-985-6030

Closing out his remarks today, the Governor stated that the CDC has noted new strains of the virus throughout the United States, and some areas that have increasing cases, so we should not be of the mindset that Covid-19 is over. He said Arkansans should continue to be careful.

Secretary of Education Johnny Key elaborated on mask options for schools, noting each district would need to have their board meet to decide on their mask policy, publish it by April 15, 2021. Other stipulations are outlined in the following slides.