Independence County Judge Robert Griffin has released another update on county operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It reads:
Our situation here in Independence County remains stable. Our positive cases have not increased since Sunday the 22nd.
I need to add one case that was not previously disclosed in official notifications. It occurred prior to the 22nd. Since I did not have official notification, I could not officially announce it. I appreciate Governor Hutchinson and the top officials at ADH [Arkansas Department of Health] and ADEM [Arkansas Department of Emergency Management] for helping us to begin receiving notifications in a timely manner. It has been a frustrating time dealing with this need, but the leadership heard my concerns and helped. We have had four positive cases since Sunday the 22nd. I repeat, that is not an additional case from recent testing but an old case, for which, we did not have official notification. There is a presumptive case currently being treated, but there has been no positive determination made as of this time.
I have run numbers from the state reports to compare with our local numbers and it appears we are on track in that regard. Many of the counties reporting no positive cases are undertested compared to us and the other counties with positive results. If no one has expressed symptoms, there would be no test so even that makes sense.
This situation is very fluid and hard to get a handle on. My main message is that we are doing the right things for no new cases to be found, as of yet. Keep doing the things we are told: hand washing, social distancing of 6 feet or more, covering your mouth when coughing, checking on your neighbors and no more than 10 in a group. Even when we do have another case reported, the spread will have been controlled before it is identified.
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The new White River Now mobile app has started featuring regular COVID-19 updates and podcasts. In addition to the updates featured on the White River Now family of radio stations, the COVID-19 podcast section also features new interviews with Sen. James Sturch, Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, Stone County Judge Stacey Avey, and state Rep. Stu Smith. Download the free White River Now app today from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, and keep up-to-date on all local and state coronavirus information and to listen to the streams of White River Now radio stations.
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