Restaurants will be able to re-open their doors for dine-in service May 11 and are able now to apply for a new grant program.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced guidelines for re-opening limited dine-in service and a grant program to aid companies throughout the phased timeline during Wednesday’s briefing.
“We realize that restaurants and small businesses have struggled financially, and they’ve been out of work and they’re now having to reconfigure their restaurants in a way that is safe,” Hutchinson said.
Dine-in operations will begin with restaurants only able to fill ⅓ of its occupancy while practicing physical distancing between patrons and tables.
The governor said the state COVID-19 recovery task force encourages reservations, face coverings for staff and patrons, gloves for staff, daily staff temperature screenings, frequent hand washing, pre-ordering when possible, hours for seniors, no groups over 10 people and no bars for congregations or entertainment.
The next phases will depend on data, but restaurant capacity will be increased while maintaining distance guidelines until businesses are able to return to normal operations.
“Success brings success,” Hutchinson said. “If we can have this limited opening of dine in services for restaurants May 11, and we’re successful in making sure we follow the guidelines and protect safety, then we’re going to be able to go and go on to more normal operations.”
Sec. of Health Dr. Nate Smith said he recommends restaurant staff to use cloth face coverings since they can be washed and reused. He also said although gloves are good to use, it isn’t beneficial if someone uses the same pair of gloves their entire shift. He said it’s important staff members remember to change gloves and wash their hands.
Hutchinson also introduced the Arkansas Ready for Business Grant Program, which is a $15 million program to assist companies while restarting amid COVID-19. He also said it’s to help build consumer confidence.
“As you invest in safety and health, the customer, the consumers will have confidence and say, ‘yes, this is some place good to go; we’re confident in the health precautions that are there,’” he said. “We want to give those kind of grants to help build consumer confidence as well as help rebuild the businesses.”
The grants, which will award between $1,000 and $100,000, are to help with COVID-19 related expenses such as personal protective equipment (PPE), deep cleaning, hand sanitizer and more.
Smith announced there are 3,192 cumulative cases in the state with 1,884 active cases. Montgomery County is now showing positive cases.
He said 93 people are hospitalized, 18 are on ventilators and there are 59 deaths. He also said 1,249 are recovered.
He also said there are no new cases reported from the Cummins Maximum Security Unit or the Federal Correctional Institution in Forrest City.
According to the Arkansas Department of Health, there are 94 cases in those 17 and younger, 257 in those 18-24, 1,218 in those 18-24, 1,087 in those 45-64 and 535 in those 65 and older.
There are 1,026 cases in those who are black, 1,591 in those who are white, 125 in those who are Hispanic, eight in American Indians, 40 in Asians, 31 in Pacific Islanders, 13 in those who are multiracial, 77 in other and 406 in missing.
Smith also said there are 194 people working on contact tracing investigations, 60-75 ADH employees trained and waiting to be equipped with laptops and cellphones to pick up the work, and he expects about 125-150 public health students to be trained and employed next week.
Local numbers
According to the ADH, Union County has 44 cases of COVID-19, 256 negative tests and 22 recoveries.