Arkansas lawmakers to convene for session

Members of the Arkansas House convene on March 25 at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock for a special session focused on a state budget shortfall. Arkansas lawmakers will meet as planned for this year's legislative session amid the coronavirus outbreak, legislative leaders said Friday, following two members testing positive for the virus. - AP Photo/Andrew Demillo
Members of the Arkansas House convene on March 25 at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock for a special session focused on a state budget shortfall. Arkansas lawmakers will meet as planned for this year's legislative session amid the coronavirus outbreak, legislative leaders said Friday, following two members testing positive for the virus. - AP Photo/Andrew Demillo

LITTLE ROCK -- Arkansas lawmakers will meet as planned for this year's legislative session amid the coronavirus outbreak, legislative leaders said Friday following two members testing positive for the virus.

Health officials said the number of coronavirus cases in Arkansas increased to at least 704 from 643 on Thursday. Twelve people in the state have died from COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

SESSION STILL ON

Legislative leaders said they will convene as planned Wednesday for this year's session focused on the budget, but aim to end their work by April 18.

House and Senate leaders said health officials told them effectively delaying the session's start, an idea that had been floated, would have posed a higher risk with the outbreak expected to peak in the state by late April or May.

"We're doing everything we can to get it done prior to that," Senate President Jim Hendren said.

The move comes days after two members of the House tested positive for the coronavirus.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

Hendren and House Speaker Matthew Shepherd said both chambers will follow the same social distancing restrictions they did during a marathon special session last week, with the House meeting again in a 5,600-seat basketball arena.

The Senate will continue meeting at the Capitol, but will limit the number of members on the floor. Both chambers are allowing members to vote remotely. Hendren said his chamber is also working on ways for its members to speak or ask questions remotely.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he would deliver a State of the State address on the first day of the session from the Senate that will be broadcast to House members in the arena.

LACK OF STAY-AT-HOME DEFENDED

Hutchinson continued to defend the state's decision to not issue a broad stay-at-home order despite Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, suggesting all states should be under such a restriction.

Arkansas is one of a handful of states that hasn't implemented a stay-at-home order, and Hutchinson noted the federal government hasn't called every to state to take that step.

"What's important is that has not been given," Hutchinson said. "The CDC, I watch their guidelines regularly, and they have not indicated that's an appropriate or necessary step across the country."

Arkansas has imposed sweeping restrictions, including bans on gatherings of more than 10 people and prohibiting sit-down service at bars and restaurants. Similar restrictions, however, were commonly in place in other states that have since moved to a stay-at-home order.

Hutchinson said he planned to talk Monday with city and county officials about what steps they can take. Several cities, including Little Rock, have implemented nighttime curfews or other restrictions.

President Donald Trump on Friday also approved Hutchinson's request to declare a major disaster in Arkansas because of the outbreak.

POLICE OFFICER INFECTED

The Little Rock Police Department said an officer has tested positive for coronavirus.

The department said on Twitter said the officer had self-quarantined more than a week ago after the potential exposure. The department did not say when the officer was tested.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Thursday that three Little Rock Fire Department employees have tested positive.

State Desk on 04/04/2020

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