Despite new CDC guidelines, Gov. Hutchinson says Arkansans should ‘absolutely’ get tested

Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he and Arkansas Department of Health officials will continue to “go a little bit further” than revised federal guidelines and encourage Arkansans to get tested for COVID-19.

On Monday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxed its testing guidance, saying individuals “do not necessarily need a test” if they have been within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 .

Gov. Hutchinson said he is aware of the new CDC guidance but talked to Arkansas Secretary of Health Dr. Jose Romero and they will still encourage Arkansans to test “even though they might be asymptomatic.”

“Yes. Absolutely,” Gov. Hutchinson said Wednesday (Aug. 26) when asked if he wanted Arkansans to get tested even if asymptomatic. “I think that’s important. I think that’s the safest route to take. You know, if somebody has traveled, they are worried about where they traveled, they’re asymptomatic, go get a test. Because that could protect your loved ones, or somebody that you might be going to school with, or your team. So, that is a good precaution, and it’s helpful for us to know what’s out there.”

On Monday, Romero said it is important for Arkansans to continue to test for COVID. He said local health units around the state will test “any and all comers” and people do not need to have symptoms or any reason to think they’ve been exposed to COVID to ask for a test.

U.S. Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Brett Giroir said the CDC change is not a result of pressure from President Donald Trump, who has said there are too many tests.

“There is no direction from President Trump, the vice president or the secretary, about what we need to do, when,” Giroir said in a phone press conference with reporters. “This is evidence-based decisions that are driven by the scientists and physicians, both within the CDC, within my office in the lab task force, and certainly amongst the task force members.”

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is chairman of the National Governors Association, alleged the new CDC guidance was political.

“I’ve spoken to health experts from around the globe. None of them will say that this makes any sense from a health point of view,” Gov. Cuomo noted in a statement. “The only plausible rationale is they want fewer people taking tests because, as the President has said, if we don’t take tests you won’t know that people are COVID-positive and the number of COVID-positive people will come down. … it totally violates public health standards and rationale and just fosters his failed policy of denial – ‘COVID’s not a problem’.”

NEW COVID CASES, FACE SHIELDS
Known COVID-19 cases in Arkansas totaled 58,023 on Wednesday, up from 57,374 on Tuesday, with 4,372 test results from the previous 24 hours. Of the 649 new cases, 56 were from correctional facilities. There are 5,390 active cases.

The number of deaths rose from 711 to 732. The number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Arkansas was 435 on Wednesday, down from 442 on Monday. There are 108 patients on ventilators, even from 108 on Tuesday. There are 51,351 cumulative recovered cases.

The top five counties with new known cases were: Pulaski (78), Jefferson (44), Benton (34), Sebastian (31) and Garland and Washington with 26 each. The six counties accounted for 40.3% of the 593 new community cases.

As of Wednesday at 1 p.m., there were 5,796,772 U.S. cases and 179,032 deaths. Globally, there were 23,979,121 cases and 821,351 deaths.

Gov. Hutchinson also announced during his daily COVID-19 briefing the state has received 70,000 face shields which will be sent to all school districts “as another option to protect themselves if they wish.”