Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston joined Gov. Asa Hutchinson and other members of the administration’s cabinet Wednesday afternoon in a press briefing about where the state stands in the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Preston said staff at the Division of Workforce Services, which operates under the state Commerce Department, is working overtime to process the large volume of claims that have been filed since the pandemic hit Arkansas.
Last week, 27,250 claims had been successfully filed since the pandemic arrived here, and Preston said he expects about the same number of claims to be filed this week. Hutchinson said Tuesday updated figures on the number of claims filed will be released this weekend.
“Understanding we went from processing about 1,000 claims a week to literally falling over a cliff and having to do 30,000 this week and by all indications we’ll be at that same level this week, so being at that volume is certainly putting a strain on our system and our people,” Preston said.
Employees from divisions other than Workforce Services have been reassigned to process claims, Preston said, and some new employees have been added to assist in that effort. Hutchinson said Tuesday the Commerce Department had hired between 20 and 30 people.
Preston also announced that the state is awaiting guidance from the federal Department of Labor in regards to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance provided for in the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act, which will cover “gig economy” workers like independent contractors and self-employed people.
While he expects that guidance to come within the week, Preston urged workers in that category who have been affected by the pandemic to wait to try to make a claim until it has been released. He said the commerce department will issue a news release and publicize on their social media when they are able to process claims from those workers.
“What we’re seeing now is a flood on our system of those workers calling and trying to go ahead and apply for the unemployment insurance. We’re not able to process it,” Preston said. “I would say please hold off if you’re one of those workers who falls into that category, because right now we cannot help you.”
The state’s unemployment claim filing system has been overwhelmed by the number of workers attempting to file claims the past few weeks. Preston said upgrades to the system have been implemented as of Wednesday. The department is processing claims at all times, Preston said.
“Please be patient. Go to the website, it’ll be the easiest way to do it,” Preston said. “We have added additional capacity to the website, so that should be moving faster today. We’re excited about that; hopefully we’re going to be able to keep up with this demand.”
Hutchinson announced that the state has partnered with Walmart and Quest Laboratories to execute a pilot program that will give the state its first drive through COVID-19 testing site. It will be located in Bentonville, where Walmart is headquartered, and will focus on testing first responders and health care providers. Hutchinson said those that are to be tested at the site will first self-screen through an app, which will either clear them or direct them to be tested.
“They expect this to be in operation early next week,” Hutchinson said. “As we get everything working well in Bentonville, hopefully we’ll be able to expand that to other parts of the state.”
Hutchinson said the state is still facing a shortage of chemical reagents needed for testing, but that Sec. of Health Dr. Nate Smith is working with vendors to secure more. He said in a call he had yesterday morning with Vice President Mike Pence, he was also assured the state would receive the supplies necessary for our eventual peak in cases.
Over 900 samples were tested in Arkansas yesterday, Smith said. They did not provide an update on the state’s supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Hutchinson said he signed an executive order Tuesday establishing a steering committee to make recommendations for federal money being allocated to Arkansas from the CARES Act. The committee has not met yet. Hutchinson said he expects about $1.25 billion to be allocated from the federal government for the state to respond to the pandemic.
Members of the committee are: Smith; Preston; Larry Walther, Secretary of the Dept. of Finance and Administration; Cindy Gillespie, Secretary of the Dept. of Human Services; Amy Fecher, Secretary of the Dept. of Transportation and Shared Services; Jami Cook, Secretary of the Dept. of Public Safety; Elizabeth Smith, Secretary of the Dept. of Inspector General; Johnny Key, Secretary of the Dept. of Education, Bill Gossage, a representative for the Governor’s office; Sen. Missy Irvin (R-Mountain View); Sen. David Wallace (R-Leachville); Sen. Will Bond (D-Little Rock); Rep. Lane Jean (R-Magnolia); Rep. Michelle Grey (R-Melbourne); and Rep. Fred Allen (D-Little Rock).