The most recent numbers seem to be leveling off in the Texarkana area when you look at the number of positive cases to recoveries. As more testing is done it appears that those numbers are improving.
Next week we will have Dr. Ben Neuman with the most recent research and some answers to more of our questions on the science of COVID-19.
From the Miller County Office of Emergency Management:
Miller County Emergency Operations Center Update 04/30/20;
*Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Miller County: 34*
*24 Recoveries*Miller County Court House to Ease Restrictions.
Beginning Monday at 8am the Miller County Courthouse will begin to ease restrictions in that all offices, except the Circuit Judges, will be open to the public for business. Only the South Handicap entrance will be accessible and expect to be screened (temp) prior to entering. Note * All Circuit Court Judges will continue business by appointment only*
*City of Texarkana Arkansas; With regards to the previously held press conference of the Joint OEM, which included Miller County, concerning the recommend curfew for the City of Texarkana, this recommendation is no longer in place.
*Governor Asa Hutchinson Announces Directives for Restaurants; The directive takes in effect on Monday, May 11th, 2020. The Directive is attached to this release.
* Governor Asa Hutchinson Begins Lifting restrictions, The following announcement dates for directives on the following businesses & groups.
• May 1 – Beauty and Barber Salon Decision
• May 4- Places of Worship & Larger venue DecisionNOTE* The above are NOT opening dates, rather the announcement date for directives.
The Miller County Emergency Operations Center will continue to follow all directives from Governor Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Department of Health concerning the upcoming soft openings scheduled in the coming weeks.
*Drive Thru Screening Yesterday was a success, Wednesday, April 29th: Lansdell Family Clinic tested well over 200 people from the local area. Lansdell will continue all COVID-19 testing at their office located at 3809 East 9th Street. Contact 870-330-4385 for further information.
*Upcoming Press Conference on Tuesday May5th, 2020; 10am, located at the Texarkana Arkansas Police Training Room, 1st floor of the Bi-State. Information of Governors current directives will be discussed.
*We request all business within Miller County to recognize and adhere to directives provided by the Governors office and Arkansas Department of Health.
From the Bowie/Cass Joint Operations Center:
TEXARKANA, TX—Bowie County Emergency Operations Center reports a total of 101 positive COVID-19 cases, with 50 recoveries and nine related deaths. Cass County has a total of 16 with 8 recovered.
The Bowie County Shelter-in-Place order expired last night at 11:59 p.m. Bowie County Judge Bobby Howell urges residents to continue following Governor Abbott’s Executive Orders and following CDC guidelines for social distancing, handwashing, and sanitizing. Cass County Judge Becky Wilbanks also let her Stay-At-Home order expire last night as well.
The mandatory 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. curfew for the City of Texarkana, Texas is also cancelled.
Governor Greg Abbott announced earlier this week the first phase of the State of Texas’ ongoing plan to safely and strategically open Texas while minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Under Phase I, certain services and activities are allowed to open with limited occupancy, and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is issuing minimum standard health protocols for all businesses and individuals to follow. The Governor also outlined special guidance for Texans over 65 and detailed a comprehensive mitigation plan for nursing homes in Texas.
The Governor also announced a statewide testing and tracing program developed by DSHS that will help public health officials quickly identify and test Texans who contract COVID-19 and mitigate further spread of the virus.
By way of Executive Order (GA-18), all retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and malls are permitted to reopen on Friday, May 1. These services must limit their capacity to 25% of their listed occupancy. Within shopping malls, the food-court dining areas, play areas, and interactive displays and settings must remain closed. The Governor’s Report to Open Texas, protocols for re-opening, and the Executive Orders can be found here: http://coronatxk.org/679/
Executive-Orders-related-to- COVID-19 Businesses seeking information on capacity to comply with the Governor’s Executive Orders can contact the Emergency Operations Center at (903) 255-5560.
The Emergency Operations Center has teamed up with the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce to publish a Business Survey to gauge Economic Impact. All businesses in Bowie County are invited to submit a survey, to report positive or negative impacts to their business. The deadline is May 12, 2020 and the survey can be accessed at https://docs.google.com/forms/
d/e/1FAIpQLSeHFOIw9o16XOhE2_ Ul4iKlW0K775q7zsWmjctRpovfhTWD zw/viewform?usp=sf_link The latest local information and updates can all be found at www.coronatxk.org. The local hotline telephone number is (903) 255-5560.
