Governor Hutchinson 7/22/2020 COVID Press Release
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm_rLbHmNDM
>Adding 125 jobs at the La-Z- Boy facility in Siloam Springs. All the workers were wearing masks at the Governor’s visit.
>Met with medical providers in NWA. Wants to thank medical workers. The stress of dealing with very seriously ill patients takes a toll on them emotionally. Thank you for the difference they are making.
>Again- return to school August 24.
>Visited with hospital administrators and how we can help.
>591 new COVID cases
>Hospitalization- down 14 to 474.
>Up 6 deaths to 380
>Testing- down a bit to 3933 tests in the last 24 hours
>Counties- Pulaski 80, Benton 46, Washington 38, Craighead 33, Faulkner 30, Garland 30, Pope 24, Crittenden 22.
>NW Health area- reached a peak in June, and since then on a decline. We still want it to come down lower.
>Hospitalizations in NW health area are also down. Very important because capacity was “tight” according to hospital administrators.
>10% growth rate in NW region. Washington around 13%. This is still a reduction in the growth rate.
>Dr. Romero- 591 new cases: 584 community cases, 7 correctional facility cases.
>27990 recoveries
>6,876 active cases- 140 nursing homes, 916 correctional, 5820 community cases.
>35,240 cumulative cases
>Washington County overall positivity rate- 22%
>Unusual distribution of cases- 72% of cases are 44 years and under. Acquiring disease in community and possibly spreading it at the workplace. Higher rate of children. 17.9% are children.
>11% of the deaths have come from Washington County, 60% are in the Marshallese population.
>Larry Shackleford- Hospital Administrator for Washington Regional.- the medical workers and community are tired.
>Mike Preston, Secretary of Commerce- 8% unemployment in Arkansas. 3% lower than national average.
>92,000 continued unemployment claims. It has dropped every week since May 9
>Week ending July 25- end of pandemic unemployment compensation (the additional $600) Congress is looking at this in relation to a new stimulus bill.
>Continue to keep an eye out for unemployment insurance fraud. 20,000 claims are under review status for fraud.
>Some days positivity rate is 20% in NWA. We all need to do everything we can to stop the spread of the virus. Wear a mask, socially distance, don’t have large gathering.
>Dr. Romero- children have not been shown to be spreaders of the virus. Specifically, under 10.
>It’s hugely problematic if people are waiting 7-10 days for results. Governor says they are working to improve that timeline.