LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday that he will announce this week whether the state can further ease coronavirus restrictions even as active cases and hospitalizations continue rising.
Hutchinson said he planned to announce Wednesday whether and when the state can enter “Phase 2″ of reopening. Arkansas has allowed businesses that closed because of the pandemic to reopen but with limits on capacity and other safety rules.
The Health Department said at least 10,080 people in the state have tested positive for the virus, an increase of 340 over the previous day. The number of active cases, meaning they don’t include people who have recovered or died, rose to 3,044.
The true number is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.
The number of people who have died from the virus caused by the coronavirus rose by six to 161. The number of people hospitalized rose to 173.
Hutchinson on Monday backed off the possibility of allowing some, but not all, parts of the state to further ease restrictions. The governor on Tuesday didn’t say whether that approach remained off the table.
