August 21, 2020 3:30 p.m. — Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson at his daily coronavirus press briefing in Little Rock Friday announced a record 22 deaths due to COVID-19, the highest number in a single day since a global pandemic was declared in Arkansas, for a total of 663 deaths. Eleven occurred in nursing home facilities, which Arkansas Sec. of Health Jose Romero said draws attention to the need for protecting vulnerable populations, given nearly 40 percent of Americans who’ve died from COVID-19 resided in nursing homes.
Arkansas saw a spike in new coronavirus cases Friday, numbering 887, with total positive cases at 55,652. Of those 5,854 are active. Arkansas has 10 new hospitalizations, for a total of 509.
“It’s a sad day for Arkansas families,” Hutchinson said. “What we are seeing is a number of clusters from group gatherings not associated with schools, that leads to cases, leads to death.” He stressed that mask wearing and physical distancing even at family gatherings must be observed.
Romero says 15 Arkansas counties have greater than 20 cases, including Pulaski County with 80, Washington County with 57, Benton County with 47 cases, and Sebastian County with 37.
Solomon Graves, Arkansas Department of Corrections Secretary, announced that 100 percent of all inmates in the state prison system have been tested, a total of 14,650 inmates. Of those 5,120 tested positive, yielding a 35 percent positivity rate. Of 4,720 staff tested, 378 were positive.
“I want to thank community corrections staff, Arkansas Emergency Management and Arkansas National Guard for help complete testing,” Graves said. He also acknowledged offender population which have been cooperative with social distancing and mask mandates. Graves says to relieve overcrowded in the state prison system, over 800 non-violent inmates were released in April, with nearly 500 new releases pending. Correctional facilities will remain closed to visitors until further notice, he said, but more video and telephone visits are enabled.
Hutchinson’s Chief of Staff Stephanie Williams warned about fraudulent contact tracers who are calling Arkansans seeking sensitive personal information, as well as people posing as health inspectors, asking for payment. She says anyone encountering such activity should contact the health department.
Hutchinson did offer some good news regarding unemployment in Arkansas which has dropped from 8.1 percent in June, to 7.1 percent in July. May unemployment was 9.6 percent. Arkansas’s rate is currently 3 percent below the national average, Hutchinson says.
“Jobs are being created,” he said, “and more than 14,000 people are working today, compared to the beginning of July.”
He warned however, as long as the pandemic continues, there will be struggles — asking everyone to adhere to state pandemic mandates and directives.
