Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce & Associated Industries of Arkansas: Summary of Gov. Hutchinson's March 27 COVID-19 Press Conference

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, March 27 -- Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas issued the following news release on March 27:

There are now 381 cases of COVID-19 with 48 patients hospitalized. No new counties have been reported with cases. Yesterday, there were 335 cases.

Today is about looking at the future of COVID-19 cases.

The future models range from 2,000 to 15,000 potential cases. The Governor wants to do everything to reduce cases and hospitalizations. The Governor showed a graph indicating that the 381 cases could increase to 2,000 by the first week in April and in two more weeks we could have 3,500 cases. If we had 3,500 cases, at a 20% rate of hospitalization, that would be 700 people in the hospital. As you go further with a peak between April 15 and June 1, cases will go up. He wants to beat these numbers but prepare for the worst-case scenario

Today, the Governor ordered 10 more National Guardsmen to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help plan for the creation of more hospital beds. They have engineering and architectural experience in making hospital beds available.

The Governor has placed an order for 500 ventilators, which would be a massive expansion of current stock. The state has to pay for them, and the military could shift them to someone in more need.

In addition to preparation, the Governor emphasized the use of tools at hand to reduce cases and patients having to be hospitalized. He asked every citizen to not be in groups of more than 10, do social distancing, wash your hands etc. Everyone in Arkansas should be concerned. People should stay in except for essential services. The no more than 10 in groups is now a directive and has the power of law. He is asking law enforcement to help implement this directive.

Dr. Nate Smith - Arkansas Department of Health

There are now 381 cases, up 46 from yesterday. 15 cases are ages 18 & under, 124 are 65 & older and 242 are ages 19-64. 48 patients are in hospitals, up 7 from yesterday and 17 of those are on ventilators, up 4 from yesterday. 42 are in nursing homes, which is the same as yesterday. They have recorded 19 recoveries per their protocol and there were no new deaths or new counties added.

They are looking at the projections and models to see where we will be in a month or two, and also working to help hospitals. So limiting gatherings is very important and it is now a directive with force of law. They don't want to put people in jail. They will talk with organizations and help them decide what is best.

The Governor, his staff and everyone authorized to enter the Capitol are being screened.

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge

Last week, she announced she was sending $3 million from the Attorney General's Consumer Education and Enforcement Fund to the AEDC's quick action loan program. Today, she announced she was allocating $1 million from the same AG Fund into the $30 million the Governor had provided for health care.

The AG's office has received almost 500 price gauging complaints and have about 25 cases, including people trying to gouge UAMS. They're working with Amazon, eBay, Walmart etc. eBay has an account to reach people and advise them that they are breaking the law. Gougers are subject to fines of up to $10,000.

Col. Bryant - Arkansas State Police

He met today with various law enforcement groups and talked about the directives. They will take a reasonable approach, and first try to get voluntary compliance. But if needed, then will enforce.

The Governor said that citizens want to do the right thing, but sometimes they need to be reminded.

Q&A

There is a reluctance in our country for the government to tell churches what to do and he appreciates this, so they haven't issued a directive to them. But he encourages them to abide. But if necessary, the Department of Health can act.

Emergency management is available to help with the homeless. ADH is trying to problem solve. They have previously been working with partners on Hepatitis A among the homeless.

The Governor said the growth of cases chart is based on their own data. Dr. Smith said it's a best-fit curve. The further you go out, the less reliable it will be. Dr. Austin Porter and his colleagues at the Arkansas College of Public Health have been looking at this and other out-of-state models to study the whole shape of the curve. Harvard, Washington & Lee and Penn all have produced models and they are all different. The state model is giving them a picture of the next two weeks.

It's too early to determine how long it will be before the state reaches the peak. Two weeks ago, he thought it would be six weeks. They look at the data every day and they need to plan for the worst-case scenarios. He does not want health professionals to have to make hard decisions.

A few days ago, Dr. Smith said the state had 571 ventilators. Currently, they have a few more. They also have the option to convert some anesthesia equipment.

April 17 remains the date of schools reopening across Arkansas. The state will probably decide about a week before. Online education continues. The Governor's team still has high energy and is working to meet the challenges.

The Special Session is expected to produce a final bill at midnight and the Governor will be in his office to sign it. He wants to recognize their urgent work. He said he is curious how long it will take to engross the bill for his signing.

His first use of the Covid-19 Raining Day Fund will be for the Arkansas Department of Health followed by the Department of Emergency Management. It could also help with ventilator purchases.

There are no plans for tents. There is space that can be converted. Some hospitals that have closed could be reopened, some quickly because of recent closures and others longer. The state could also look at other available government buildings. The National Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have experience in converting vacant space. They also have mobile hospital possibilities. War Memorial has been discussed, but he wants to look at other options.

Tomorrow's press conference will be about economic recovery. He plans to talk about unemployment and small businesses.