Here are some Key Notes, Statistics, and Video for Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson’s news update on the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Hutchinson welcomed Dr. Michelle Smith, Director of The Office of Health Equity and HIV Elimination; Mike Preston, Secretary of Commerce; and Dr. Nate Smith, State Secretary of Health.
The Governor displayed the usual charts to show how cases and hospitalizations are progressing. He then announced that barbers, cosmetologists, massage therapists, body artists and medical spa services may resume practicing business on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, with some restrictions (see below).
Dr. Nate Smith announced that he will be appointing a COVID-19 Dental Advisory Group to give input on the directive to come for the May 18th reopening of dental services.
Dr. Michelle Smith announced that the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame foundation will award many grants of up to $1,000 to organizations addressing hardships due to COVID-19.
She also stated that the Arkansas Department of Health has established a learning series called Cut and Counsel for barbers and stylists to receive training to provide health education and even blood pressure readings to their clients.
To help reduce covid-19 transmission among employees and customers there will be a free seminar on Tuesday, May 5th from 6-7:30 p.m. Look for the RSVP link on the Arkansas Department of Health website.
The governor gave an update on the Arkansas Ready for Business grants. Due to the overwhelming demand for the grants an additional $85 million has been added to the program for a total of $100 million. This is subject to legislative approval.
In the question portion of the press conference, Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston stated that the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program is in the testing phase and they hope to have it ready to go in a matter of days. If you are self-employed, an independent contractor, freelancer, gig worker or project-based worker, you can go ahead and apply during the testing phase. See details at www.mysaline.com/covid-pua.
Guidelines for Phase One of Reopening of Barber, Cosmetology, Massage Therapy, Body Art, and Medical Spa Services May 6, 2020:
- Providers may resume services; however those services shall be scheduled by appointment with adequate time in between appointments to properly clean and disinfect. Walk-in appointments are prohibited during Phase 1.
- People older than 65 or those with chronic medical conditions should consider remaining home during Phase 1.
- Providers must pre-screen clients for potential COVID-related symptoms before they arrive for an appointment using the following questions:
-Have you had a fever of 100.4 F or greater in the past two days
-Do you have a cough, difficulty breathing, a sore throat, or loss of taste or smell?
-Have you had contact with a person known to be infected with COVID-19 within the past 14 days?
Providers should postpone for 14 days the appointment of any who answer “yes” to any of the questions. - Employees/licensees shall be pre-screened with both the standardized questionnaire and a daily temperature check. Any employee with a temperature of 100.4 F or greater will not be allowed to work.
- Services shall not be performed on clients who show any sign of illness such as fever, cough, or runny nose. Signage shall be posted informing clients about this policy.
- All persons in the salon/shop/clinic are required to maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet while services are not being rendered. For most entities, occupancy will be limited to no more than 10 persons, including all support staff.
- In smaller facilities, the 6 feet physical distancing condition may require that fewer than 10 persons are present at any given time.
- Larger facilities (able to accommodate more than 10 persons while maintaining appropriate physical distancing) shall operate no more than 30% of their stations during Phase 1.
- Barbers, stylists, and employees shall wear a face covering at all times. A cloth face covering is acceptable for this purpose.
- Clients shall wear masks as services permit. A cloth face covering is acceptable for this purpose. Signage shall be posted informing clients about this policy.
- Chairs in waiting areas shall be positioned to ensure six feet of social distancing. When possible, clients should wait outside of the shop/salon/clinic until called by their stylist/therapist.
- All existing infection control rules remain in effect and will be enforced. Non-porous surfaces shall be cleaned and disinfected prior to use. Porous items shall be discarded after a single use.
- Gloves shall be worn for all services as required by Rule. Licensees are encouraged to wear gloves for all other services when able.
- Hand washing shall be performed before and after each service.
- The Department of Health COVID Infection Control Education module shall be viewed prior to reopening.
- Practitioners shall maintain a record of the name, date, and contact information, for each client serviced for a period of one month. This may be accomplished using a sign-in sheet.
- Barbering, cosmetology, body art schools, and massage schools shall remain closed for in-person instruction during Phase 1. However, practical examinations are permissible if they are performed on inanimate objects such as mannequins and artificial skin. Appropriate physical distancing shall be maintained during testing.
Phase Two will include:
- An increase in the number of people allowed inside.
- 6-foot distancing maintained.
- Screenings continue.
- Face coverings maintained.
- Consider allowing walk-ins.
- In-person instruction at cosmetology, barbering schools may be possible.
Phase Three will include:
- Normal operations resume while maintaining good infection control.
Dr. Smith listed the current statistics for COVID-19 patients below:
- 64 deaths, up 3
- All from nursing homes
- 3,321 cases, up 66
- 1,973 recovered, up 668*
- This high number is two cases being re-categorized
- 1,284 current cases
- 95 hospitalizations, up 0
- 1786 tests performed yesterday
- 23 on a ventilator, up 0
- Nursing homes
- 229 resident cases, up 7
- 142 staff cases, up 7
- Forrest City Federal Correctional Institute
- 135 inmate cases, up 34
- More are being added to the system
Statistics for Saline County as of the end of the day yesterday were:
Positives 67
Negatives 1,191
Recoveries 46
Deaths 1
The link for case numbers the entire state is: https://adem.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/f533ac8a8b6040e5896b05b47b17a647