Gov. Hutchinson issues dates, guidelines for venue reopening; Ready for Business program returns with $55 million

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Monday (May 4) announced dates and guidelines for the limited opening of indoor and outdoor venues and places of worship. It was also announced that the Ready for Business grant program would be launched with $55 million in funding, up from the initial $15 million.

Large venues and places of worship may open effective May 4, with indoor venues able to open May 18.

Following are some of the guidelines for large indoor and outdoor venues. The Arkansas Department of Health will release a more detailed directive later today.
• 12-foot distance between performers and audience.
• 50 or fewer performers/players/contestants.
• Audience of 50 or fewer people.
• 6-foot distancing for seating except for family groups.
• Every other row should be unoccupied.
• Face coverings for all attendees over 10 years of age.
• Refreshments allowed but no self service.
• No entry if having a recent fever or other symptoms.

Following are some of the guidelines for places of worship. The Arkansas Department of Health will release a more detailed directive later today.
• Online platforms strongly encouraged.
• No entry if having a recent fever or other symptoms.
• Six-foot distancing except for family groups.
• No physical contact.
• Refrain from having people come forward to a common altar for communion, blessing, etc.
• Face coverings must be worn by all attendees over 10 years of age.
• Hand sanitation stations at all entrances.
• Eliminate use of multiple touch items like collection plates and shared books.
• No classes for youth or childcare.

The governor said those hoping for more should note the process the state is following.

“For those who say, ‘Well, that’s not enough.’ You’ve got to remember where we are. That we’ve just met our gating criteria for phase 1. In order to enlarge this more, which we all want to do, we need to be careful to keep our cases going in the right direction, which is a downward or flat trend, we’ve got to keep from having a resurgence. So we need to stick with social distancing, we need to follow these guidelines so that we can after another period of time go into a greater number of people and more flexibility in some of these venues,” he said during Monday’s daily COVID-19 briefing.

Gov. Hutchinson said there could be spikes in new COVID-19 cases as more of the state economy is reopened, but is hopeful the state’s increased testing and contact tracing capability will help keep the spikes under control.

READY FOR BUSINESS GRANT
The $55 million announced for the Ready for Business grant program is more than the initial $15 million, but below the $100 million requested by a steering committee created by Gov. Hutchinson to recommend how to spend federal money directed toward pandemic response efforts.

Gov. Hutchinson on March 29 unveiled the Arkansas Ready for Business grant program, to be administered by the Arkansas Department of Commerce, for the purpose of helping a wide variety of businesses that may be allowed to reopen in the coming weeks and months. Money for the program came from what Arkansas was allocated from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act approved by Congress to provide aid to individuals, businesses and state and local governments in response to the pandemic.

The program was halted shortly after it was launched because legislative approval had not yet been received, and initial demand suggested the $15 million would not be enough. Of the 2,392 applications filed before the program was halted, around 1,400 were from businesses with fewer than 10 employees. The grants are capped at $100,000 per business.

Those applications will still be valid when the website opens at 8 a.m., May 5. Gov. Hutchinson said it is “unknown” if the $55 million will be enough to meet the demand. If the demand is more, he said the Legislature will have to consider adding more money.

COVID CASES
Known COVID-19 cases in Arkansas totaled 3,458 as of Monday, up from 3,431 on Sunday. Of the 27 new cases, 14 were from within correctional facilities. Of the total cases, 1,362 are active cases, with 2,016 recoveries. The number of deaths rose from 76 to 81. Of the 73 deaths, 28 are nursing home related. The number of COVID patients hospitalized in Arkansas was 91 on Monday, down from 98 Sunday. Of the COVID-19 patients, 16 were on ventilators, down from 19 on Sunday.

As of Monday at 1 p.m., there were 1,170,719 U.S. cases and 68,046 deaths. Globally, there were 3,552,985 cases and 249,079 deaths.