Gov. Asa Hutchinson has announced a Face Coverings Executive Order for the state of Arkansas that will begin Monday.
The order will carry the force of law and violations will be punishable by fines. (Scroll below for specifics on the mandate.)
The number of new cases along with hospitalizations and deaths indicate that more had to be done, Hutchinson told reporters at today’s statewide COVID-19 breifing. The governor said he had talked to doctors and nurses and noted both groups expressed that the public needs to do more.
Kids will be returning to school, and the governor stressed that adults must be ready to set the right example if their children are asked to wear masks when school opens.
Finally, Hutchinson said he had spoken to state legislators, and while many do not like the executive order, he said they are ready to get through this by “whatever it takes.”
COVID-19 stats from the Thursday briefing:
- 817 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases at 31,114.
- Six new deaths were reported. The total death toll now stands at 341.
- Hospitalizations stand at 470, up 12 from yesterday.
- Over 6,000 tests were completed in the past 24 hours.
Watch the Thursday briefing from Gov. Hutchinson below.
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