Arkansas governor orders gyms, restaurant dining rooms, bars closed

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Thursday ordered the closure of all restaurant dining rooms, bars and gymnasiums in the state as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose by two-thirds, to 62, including in nine counties where cases hadn't previously been identified.

The Republican governor said he also would extend the closure of the state's public schools for three weeks, until April 17, when he will evaluate whether to reopen them "based upon the public health conditions at the time."

He said he was also directing state agencies to have employees work from home as much as possible, and for hospitals, clinics and mental health facilities to screen staff and visitors for fever and other symptoms of covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

He said the new cases were "not a surprise," as the state's testing capacity has increased, but "reflect the fact that we do have continued challenges in Arkansas."

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