Three new presumptive positive tests for the coronavirus were announced by Governor Asa Hutchinson Saturday afternoon, bringing the total to 12 for Arkansas.

All three new cases were health care workers who were in contact with the first Arkansas patient in Pine Bluff. All are in isolation, health officials said.

None of the 12 cases that have been announced are in Northeast Arkansas. All positive tests were in central Arkansas: Pulaski, Saline, Jefferson, and Grant counties. Schools in those counties are being closed for two weeks.

Hutchinson said the state’s emergency operations center has been activated. He also activated the Arkansas National Guard. They will provide logistics, transportation, and call center support.

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Arkansas Pie Festival Postpones April Events

With the recent announcement by the World Health Organization that COVID-19 is now a global pandemic and the announcement of nine confirmed cases of coronavirus in Arkansas, the Spring River Innovation Hub’s Board of Directors has made the difficult but necessary decision to postpone the Arkansas Pie Festival and surrounding events.

The board made the challenging decision by unanimous vote Thursday. The decision follows similar announcements across the state as well as the country.

The Arkansas Pie Festival serves as a celebration of community above all else. We have many attendees that travel from across Arkansas and its surroundings states, and a number of our volunteers and community members are among those most vulnerable to contracting the disease. Therefore, it is our responsibility to take the necessary steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

We are exploring all options to reschedule the event and are working to provide updates to all 2020 participants, sponsors, vendors and volunteers. We will provide an FAQ on our website and social media as soon as possible.

We understand the gravity of the pandemic for all the small businesses and will work to build an event in the fall that supports our vendors, participating businesses and regional tourism industry. The Spring River Innovation Hub will continue to work hard to bring you the unique events you love. Though our April 2020 events will no longer take place in the way that we intended, we continue to strive toward our purpose – supporting entrepreneurs, increasing STEAM opportunities for youth and supporting Arkansas tourism and our community.

Thank you for your understanding and support of the Arkansas Pie Festival.

press release

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