Coronavirus

As visitations resume in nursing homes, visitors will have to follow new Arkansas Department of Health guidelines, like limiting visits to two guests per resident, wearing face masks, and passing a health screening. Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities closed to the public March 13 to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to vulnerable residents in these facilities.

At today's coronavirus response briefing, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced 439 new COVID-19 cases and five additional deaths from the virus during the last 24-hour monitoring period. Washington County once again reported the highest number of cases with 77. Benton County had an additional 36. Although the new cases are fewer than previous days, the governor cautioned there were also fewer tests, likely because of the Fourth of July holiday. Hutchinson also announced the state plans to conduct 200,000 tests during the month of July, upping the goal from 180,000.

Although some businesses have reopened with restrictions and many Americans have received federal benefits during the pandemic, many are still feeling the economic fallout of COVID-19. Roby Brock, with our partner Talk Business and Politics, asks Mervin Jebaraj, the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, about how the national and state economies are doing as the summer begins.

Last week, Major League Baseball announced there would be no Minor League games for the 2020 season. Justin Cole, general manager for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, explains how the decision will affect the Springdale team.