LITTLE ROCK — Severe winter weather has significantly slowed Arkansas’ testing efforts but health officials said Tuesday that the declining number of hospitalizations accurately represents where the state’s at with COVID-19. With new cases, active cases and hospitalizations on the decline, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Tuesday he is easing two recent COVID-19 restrictions.
Events can now have up to 100 attendees without submitting a plan to the state. Previously, a plan was required for any event with over 10 attendees. Officials said they still expect people to follow guidelines at the event, no matter how small.
”This is not opening up the wild west,” Hutchinson said. “It just makes life simpler in the planning.”
Arkansas only reported 177 new confirmed and probable cases on Tuesday after around 2,200 PCR and antigen tests. Hospitalizations, which have consistently been declining, were down by 4 Tuesday to 638. Health Secretary Dr. Jose Romero said that number hasn’t been impeded by the weather.