Governor extends public health and disaster emergency in Arkansas for 45 days

LITTLE ROCK — Governor Asa Hutchinson has extended Arkansas’s COVID-19 public health and disaster emergency for an additional 45 days, he announced at a news conference today.

Governor Hutchinson issued Executive Order 20-25 to renew the public health and disaster emergency he originally declared on March 11, 2020, and amended on March 26.

“Every industry sector in Arkansas has been affected by the outbreak of COVID19,” Governor Hutchinson said. “The pandemic continues to have a statewide impact on grocery stores, small businesses, pharmacies, hospitals, and restaurants to name a few. It’s important that we continue to adequately support and protect our industries and people until the threat is no longer imminent.”

The Governor has also issued an updated directive for out-of-state travelers, as detailed in Executive Order 20-25.

Under this new directive, all travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Orleans, and all international locations must follow quarantine directives outlined by the Arkansas Department of Health Secretary Dr.

Nate Smith. Governor Hutchinson and Secretary Smith have identified these locations based on the high level of COVID-19 cases in each state or region. The Secretary of Health may amend the list of quarantine locations as the situation progresses.

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PARAGOULD — On Monday, in accordance with instructions from Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, gyms and fitness centers received permission to open within limits.

In the case of gyms and fitness centers, standard COVID-19 screening must be completed on entry for all staff and participants. Staff members should wear a face covering or mask at all times. Patrons should wear a face covering except when actively exercising. 'That's so they can breathe while they're exercising,' said Grant Pickney, owner of Anytime Fitness.

Pickney said his operation is open 24 hours a day and will be staffed for most of that time. In addition, in accordance with the governor's announcement, Pickney said his staff would make sure all exercise machines or equipment are sanitized after each use.

Workouts on equipment, as well as individual training sessions, indoor group fitness classes, and workouts that require a partner, will require 12 foot spacing between each person for the time being. 'We've been moving things around to try to make it even safer,' Pickney said this week.

Staff also have placed buckets of sanitary wipes in various locations about the facility. 'And we go beyond what the governor has asked us to do,' Pickney said.

Noting regular customers constitutes a sort of family in itself, he said they have been assisting in the cleaning when they finish using a given piece of workout equipment. 'So we do cleaning,' Pickney said, 'they do cleaning, and we have a cleaning lady that comes in several times a day.'

Pickney said Anytime Fitness, a locally owned franchise among the chain of 4,000 worldwide, has a staff of three paid employees, plus three more contracted fitness instructors. Without going into detail, he added that the forced closure has created some financial issues. 'We're considering all our options,' he said of the federal Economic Emergency Disaster Loan and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance programs.

In any case, Pickney said he would be glad when the facility re-opens fully. 'We normally do a lot of highfives and fist-bumps,' he said, 'and we can't just yet — so we'll be doing a whole lot of it later!'

On Wednesday, barber, cosmetology, massage therapy, body art and medical spa services likewise had permission to open, again within limits. According to state guidelines, services must 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 prescreen clients for potential COVID-related symptoms before they arrive for an appointment. Barbers, stylists, and employees shall wear a face covering at all times. Clients must also wear masks as services permit. In both cases, a cloth face covering is acceptable for this purpose. Signs are to be posted informing clients of the requirement.

'We will be open by appointment only from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.,' said Jeri Baldwin, owner of RockStylez at 210 S. Pruett St. 'We'll have a full staff, and we'll have to work longer hours to play 'catch-up.'' Baldwin explained the longer hours are to make up for the lack of income since the required shutdown of businesses like hers. But she praised creditors for working with her on bills, and thanked those who offered donations and gift certificates. 'So we've been blessed,' Baldwin acknowledged.

Not every facility that caters to people's health and wellness is participating fully, however.

'Our walking paths at all of our parks are open,' said Pat Austin, director of parks and recreation for the city of Paragould, 'but all our buildings, pools and restrooms are still closed to the public.

There is a sort of a silver lining to the dark cloud of COVID-19,' she said.

'Families are getting together and doing activities as families, instead of one person here another one there and so on. This is the silver lining.'

As far as actual reopening of the park facilities, Austin said there is no way to know a timetable.

'Our number one concern is taking care of our community,' she said. 'We don't want people to catch COVID-19 at any of our facilities.'

In addition, a concern remains for lifeguards at the city's aquatic center. 'If they have to do CPR, they could catch COVID-19,' Austin said. 'So we have to be really cautious.'

Austin said the city's plan is to wait to see if there is anything by which to gauge the possibility of a re-opening.

She speculated that perhaps by June or July, the baseball and softball fields can reopen.

'If not, then in the fall,' Austin concluded.