LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Arkansas’ governor said Friday that he hopes to begin lifting on May 4 some of the state’s restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus outbreak.Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced the plan as state health officials revealed that the number of coronavirus cases at a state prison spiked from 46 inmates to 129.
Hutchinson said he hoped to lift some of the state’s limits if Arkansas meets the first phase of guidelines set Thursday by the Trump administration for states to reopen their economies. Arkansas has not issued a stay-at-home order but has imposed other restrictions that have closed businesses.
“This is a start, and we need everybody’s help to meet that goal,” Hutchinson said. The governor did not specify which restrictions he hoped to lift first.
Hutchinson on Thursday said one of his priorities for lifting limits is reopening hospitals to elective surgeries.
Health officials said the number of cases in the state has increased to at least 1,695 people. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
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