LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Governor Asa Hutchinson announced Friday that he was appointing a COVID-19 Winter Task Force to help combat rising cases in Arkansas and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. This comes as state daily cases topped 2,000 for the first time.
The task force was created through an executive order and will look at hospital capacity and see what relief the state can provide to hospitals and their staff. Gov. Hutchinson said the task force will immediately look at the following four areas: actions to better coordinate caseload statewide; measures the state can take to help better support medical staff; additional steps to ensure compliance with the statewide mask mandate; and any measures to reduce the high number of cases and resultant burden on hospitals.
Gov. Hutchinson said Friday he does not expect the state to shut down to help prevent the virus's spread in the winter months. Hutchinson said there are currently no plans to switch schools to full virtual learning in the state again.
The Arkansas Department of Health will remain the lead agency in the fight against the virus, Gov. Hutchinson stated.
Hutchinson also gave a preview of Friday's COVID-19 numbers, sharing a new record-high 2,312 newly confirmed and probable cases reported Friday. COVID-19 hospitalizations also broke the record-high number at 826 in Arkansas.
The first meeting for the task force will be Monday, Nov 16, at 8 a.m.
$1.6 million will be used for a fall and winter "marketing strategy" in Arkansas to bring awareness of the threat COVID-19 has on the state. Health safety guidelines such as wearing a mask, socially distancing and washing hands will be featured in the marketing strategy.
“We continue to see a record number of COVID-19 cases, and as winter approaches, we must take this head-on with a strategy that is medically sound and data-driven,” Governor Hutchinson said at a news conference today. “This will ensure that we are combating COVID-19 with the best resources to limit the spread and mitigate the impact of the virus while we wait for a vaccine.”
Governor Hutchinson will serve as chair, and Dr. Greg Bledsoe, Arkansas Surgeon General, will serve as vice-chair. The other members of the COVID-19 Winter Task Force are:
- Larry Shackelford, President and CEO of Washington Regional Medical Center;
- Chris Barber, President and CEO of St. Bernard’s Healthcare;
- Scott Street, CEO of Medical Center of South Arkansas;
- Dr. Cam Patterson, Chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences;
- Rachel Bunch, Executive Director of Arkansas Health Care Association;
- Bo Ryall, President and CEO of Arkansas Hospital Association;
- Troy Wells, President and CEO of Baptist Health;
- Ryan Gehrig, President of Mercy Hospital, Fort Smith;
- Major General Kendall Penn, Adjutant General, Arkansas National Guard;
- A.J. Gary, Director of Arkansas Department of Emergency Management;
- Dr. José Romero, Secretary of Arkansas Department of Health;
- Dr. Jerrilyn Jones, Arkansas Department of Health;
- Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, Arkansas Department of Health;
- Dr. Naveen Patil, Arkansas Department of Health;
- Dr. Keyur Vyas, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences;
- Phillip Gilmore, CEO of Ashley County Medical Center;
- Dr. Steven Collier, CEO of ARcare;
- Ron Peterson, President and CEO of Baxter County Regional Medical Center; and
- Additional citizens as the Governor deems necessary.