Hempstead County Holds Press Conference On Corona Virus

Hempstead County hosted a press conference Friday concerning the Corona Virus.  County Judge Jerry Crane said the community needs to come together on the issue.

First up were Clay Hobbs and John Gray of Pafford EMS.  Hobbs had requested the county schedule the meeting.  He noted the Pafford Emergency Operations Center had been opened earlier in the morning.  Pafford handles 9-1-1 calls for a five state area as well as the Virgrin Islands from Hope.  Hobbs said they answer about 2,000 calls a day and they have a screening process in place to ask key questions if there has been exposure or they have symptoms of the virus.   As of this morning, they had screened 20 calls through their secondary screening that turned out to be negative and as of Friday morning had not transported any patients who had been exposed or tested positive.  Hobbs says the company’s national stockpile is located here in Hope and they are well-prepared to help the community should there be an outbreak.  Gray detailed some further preparations including a mock drill the ambulance service did with Wadley in Hope this past week.  Gray also urged people to not panic over the outbreak and don’t over react to social media.  He noted hygiene is important and urged everyone to use good sense.  Hobbs said if a person feels they need to get further medical help, don’t just go to the doctor, call the office first to avoid exposing other patients.

Debbie Howard of the Hempstead County Health Unit introduced Sheree McKinnon, Communicable Disease Specialist.  They suggested going to healthy.arkansas.gov for information on the outbreak.  She said as of Thursday they six cases presumed positive but they were not confirmed.  There were also 20 cases under investigation and 135 being monitored due to risk factors (such as traveling).  Howard said if you have questions call 800-803-7847.  McKinnon stressed that what is different from past situations is there is no Corona vaccine and this situation is a different learning curve.  She also said there are people panicking and people making fun of those panicking and that neither of those situations are the right response.  McKinnon also discussed 7 strains of Corona viruses which include the Covid-19 virus.  She called it “highly commuicable” and also noted there will be lots of testing.  McKinnon said they are quarantining people for 14 days if they are presumed to have it.  She said if health officials do nothing and let it spike the disease will overrun health care facilities.  McKinnon said the “facebook is the devil” when it comes to communicable diseases and instead urged the public to visit the Arkansas site or cdc.gov.  She also detailed how the Department of Health will communicate with schools to have children quarantined.  McKinnon also noted that the Arkansas site will post presumptive cases and their locations by county.  McKinnon said the incubation period of the disease is 1 to 14 days.

Kirk Bell of United Ag/John Deere in Hope noted there are some positive things that will come from all this as they are having their employees to clean every area of their store.  He also noted the drop in mortgage rates has been positive for many homeowners and that he was able to stagger one of his customer’s rates and also put a customer in a new tractor for a very small additional charge.  He said business leaders can turn this situation into a positive as opposed to a neagative.

Shelby Brown of Wadley Regional Medical Center Hope said they are resricting children under 12 from entering the hospital and that they will be screening visitors as they come in.  Brown also suggested calling the ER rather than coming in so personnel can screen the patient for what their needs are.  It was also noted a staff member will meet the person outside the ER and make arrangements to put that person away from other patients.

County Health Officer Dale Goins noted nursing homes are restricting visitors but the public needs to know that population is the most at-risk for the virus. He said the number one thing is to help the elderly avoid it.  He suggested older residents consider staying close to home, possibly for several months.  Dr. Goins also asked hospital personnel about testing and it was noted there are a limited number of test kits and it will take 2 or 3 days to get an answer on a test.  Hospital personnel noted if you are not acutely ill, you will probably be sent home.  Dr. Goins also noted there are no medicines they can give to patients to restrict the virus.  He also said the older, at-risk patients may have to have supplemental oxygen and in extreme cases ventilators.  Primarily, he said most people will just be sent home to get over it themselves.   Dr. Goins urged those present to pass this info on to the community.

UAHT Chancellor Chris Thomason said their various campuses are open but they are taking actions to restrict the spread of the virus.  He noted they will be restricting events at Hempstead Hall and other public meeting spaces.  Faculty and staff are being restricted from attending non-essential meetings.  Thomason noted Health Science students have been pulled from medical rotations with area nursing homes and hospitals.  He also said they are urging students to wash their hands and limit social contact.

Anna Powell of the Hope/Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce noted the Chamber has postponed their Chamber banquet which was originally scheduled for Monday.  She noted Chamber Coffees are also postponed.

Reginald Easter of the Arkansas Department of Transportation also suggested those traveling to remember the state rest stops and visitors centers have a lot of traffic and motorists will want to be aware of that before they stop.

District 3 State Representative Danny Watson said those who think they might be sick should call the UAMS hotline at 800-632-4502.  He noted the state capitol is currently closed due to the Corona crisis.

Hope City Manager Catherine Cook noted the city has plans in place to provide city services.  She said the city may have to do some things differently but she asked the public to work with the city to make sure the residents of Hope stay safe.

Hope Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hart said they are following guidelines of the CDC and the Arkansas Department of Health.  He noted the State Education Department controls much of the decisions.  He noted the district does not have an excessive absentee rate.

Sheriff James Singleton noted they have limited access to the jail.  He noted visitations will now be via video for the next 30 to 40 days and there won’t be any in-person visitations for the foreseeable future.

Washington Fireman Jon Barry asked if first responders will be be notified if they are paged out to a potential Corona virus patients.  Theresa Smith of the ADEM detailed how those cases would be responded to and noted rural fire departments wouldn’t be sent to such situations.

Judge Crane wrapped up the meeting by jokingly asking the public to quit hoarding toliet paper but then by calling on First Baptist minister Daniel Bramlett to lead in prayer.