As of the latest update, there are now 31 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Craighead County.
Updated 9:15 PM:
Arkansas Total: 1,202
Deaths: 24
Recoveries: 329
Active Cases: 849
1,348 were tested on Thursday in Arkansas, which was the largest number yet.
Updated 1:30 PM
NEA Summary
Clay County: 1 positive, 0 recoveries, 47 negative
Cleburne County: 69 positive, 34 recoveries, 100 negative, 4 deaths
Craighead County: 31 positive, 12 recoveries, 275 negative
Crittenden County: 89 positive, 11 recoveries, 460 negative, 2 deaths
Greene County: 6 positive, 3 recoveries, 293 negative
Independence County: 5 positive, 4 recoveries, 61 negative
Jackson County: 0 positive, 0 recoveries, 25 negative
Lawrence County: 10 positive, 0 recoveries, 98 negative, 1 death
Poinsett County: 7 positive, 4 recoveries, 29 negative
Mississippi County: 7 positive, 3 recoveries, 34 negative
Randolph County: 8 positive, 4 recoveries, 134 negative
Sharp County: 2 positive, 0 recoveries, 19 negative
Don’t see your county? View the ADH map here.
Current as of 9:15 PM
United States Total: 500,399
Deaths: 18,693
Recoveries: 28,837
Global Total: 1,696,139
Deaths: 102,699
Recoveries: 376,200
Jonesboro declares COVID-19 emergency curfew
Mayor Harold Perrin, with the approval of Gov. Asa Hutchinson, has issued a nighttime curfew as part of Jonesboro’s effort to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in the city.
This Declaration of Local Emergency takes effect at 10 p.m. Friday, April 10. The curfew will be 10 p.m.-6 a.m. nightly for no more than 120 days, and will be reviewed by the City Council at its next meeting April 21. Perrin said he hopes this curfew is not needed for the full period of the declaration.
The decision is the result of a confluence of factors that indicate such curfews can be a successful strategy in helping reduce spikes in cases of coronavirus in communities.
Perrin said it is in line with Hutchinson’s philosophy of targeted approaches without impacting commerce more than necessary.
“Cities around Arkansas and the nation are seeing success with nighttime curfews,” Perrin said. “Every hour people are not interacting in person decreases the chances of a spike that could overload our healthcare systems.
“It also protects our police department and other first responders from a surge illnesses and quarantines.”
Perrin leaned on City Medical Director Dr. Shane Speights and Dr. Greg Bledsoe, surgeon general for the State of Arkansas, in this decision.
Speights reminds the public that every day cases continue to go up in the state and region
“It is our duty to continue to look for ways to reduce the impact of this disease on our local healthcare workers, hospitals and the general public,” Speights said. “Essentially, our community’s duty is to keep working to flatten the curve.”
Speights said everyone has to understand how easily this particular coronavirus is transmitted among humans and that 25 percent of carriers show no symptoms. He said the apex of cases in Jonesboro is not predicted for another month or more.
Activities not impacted by this curfew include travel to and from work, for medical reasons or to contact emergency services such as law enforcement, firefighting or ambulance, or travel beyond the city limits.
“We are working hard to prevent a spike in Jonesboro and Craighead County,” Perrin said. “This might be a small inconvenience to some, but it will hopefully be a great relief to those with underlying conditions and save lives.”
‘Run Walk Howl’ Virtual 5K to Promote Fitness, April 19-25
Press Release
JONESBORO – Join the Arkansas State Alumni Association and the Get in Gear Fitness Series for the April 19-25, “Run Walk Howl” virtual 5K.
Created to encourage fitness while maintaining social distancing, the event is free and open to everyone. To participate, determine the route for your 5K, then run, walk, or roll 3.1 miles while tracking your stats using a fitness tracker or fitness app at any time during the weeklong window.
To register and print your bib, visit the “Run Walk Howl” website. To track your progress, several free apps are available in the app store, including MapMyRun, Runkeeper and Runtastic. Upon completion of the 5K, share your race and finish images on social media at @GetInGearSeries and use the hashtags #RunWalkHowl and #GetInGear.
Participants are reminded to understand and follow the resolutions and/or ordinances in your community regarding social distancing. Keep a 6-10 foot space between yourself and others, and if you see more than 10 people in any area, adjust your route to maintain social distancing.
The Get in Gear Fitness Series is sponsored by Arkansas State University, Gearhead Outfitters, and St. Bernards Healthcare.
ASU honoring responders and healthcare workers
The tower of the Dean B. Ellis Library at Arkansas State University is blue this evening (Friday, April 10), as a salute to first responders and healthcare industry workers for their dedicated response to the COVID-19 pandemic and recent tornados, treating victims and keeping everyone as safe as possible. The tower will continue to be blue throughout the weekend.
This article will be updated throughout the day on Friday, April 10 with coronavirus-related news from northeast Arkansas. Check back and refresh for the latest.
Your reports are very helpful. May I ask why Cross County is left off of the NEA county report that is given each day? Is it possible to include that county as well as the other NEA counties being left off like Woodruff, and St. Francis?