County Office Telephone Numbers in Sevier County
VIDEO - Sevier County Judge Greg Ray Addresses the Coronavirus Issue in Southwest Arkansas
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
How to Protect Yourself
Older adults and people who have severe underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. Please consult with your health care provider about additional steps you may be able to take to protect yourself.
Know How it Spreads
There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
Take steps to protect yourself
Clean your hands often
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Take steps to protect others
Stay home if you’re sick
Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick.
Cover coughs and sneezes
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
Throw used tissues in the trash.
Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Wear a facemask if you are sick
If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room. Learn what to do if you are sick.
If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.
Clean and disinfect
Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
To disinfect:
Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work. Use disinfectants appropriate for the surface.
Options include:
Diluting your household bleach.
To make a bleach solution, mix:5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water
OR4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water
Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.
Alcohol solutions.Ensure solution has at least 70% alcohol.
Other common EPA-registered household disinfectants.
Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens pdf icon[7 pages]external icon claims are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).
UA Cossatot's Center for Student Success Notice
Canceled Events at UA Cossatot this Month
Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, UA Cossatot has closed its campuses to students and the public until after spring break. Certain events have been canceled and will be rescheduled.
The college has canceled the lunch-and-learn event set to take place in De Queen on March 19. The second annual Miss UA Cossatot pageant scheduled for March 28 has also been canceled and will be rescheduled for a later date.
UA Cossatot has also temporarily suspended facility rentals and community events held at all UA Cossatot campuses until further notice.
The college apologizes for any inconvenience and wishes to thank the public for their support.
From the Center for Disease Control
Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals.
Therefore, CDC, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.
Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing. When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual.
This recommendation does not apply to the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses. This recommendation is made in an attempt to reduce introduction of the virus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus. This recommendation is not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials.
Howard County Children’s Center and Rainbow Learning Center Open in Nashville
Howard County Children’s Center and Rainbow Learning Center will be open.
We ask that no visitors come to our facility at this time.
Parents, when you drop off your child, we ask that you do not go past the locked doors. Staff will be available to take your child to their room.
We are checking staff temperatures, adult clients, and the children's as well.
HCCC adult clients that live in the community will not be attending day hab or Work Activity.
Arkansas Public Schools Temporarily Closed
Governor shuts down all Arkansas schools for two-week period; programs throughout the local area are cancelled as well.
For the complete story, visit:
Governor shuts down all Arkansas schools for two-week period; programs throughout the local area are cancelled as well
Closures and cancellations are sweeping the community and state as COVID-19 has taken root in Arkansas. Governor Asa Hutchinson, on Sunday afternoon, said in a press conference that all Arkansas schools will close by Tuesday, March 17 and stay closed until March 30, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Sevier County Health Unit Notice
Sevier County Health Officer says there have been no cases of COVID-19 reported in Southwest Arkansas
For the complete story, visit:
Sevier County Health Officer says there have been no cases of COVID-19 reported in Southwest Arkansas
Sevier County Health Officer Dr. Jason Lofton, said that there have been no cases of the novel coronavirus in Sevier County or all of Southwest Arkansas as of Sunday evening. "I do expect us to see them at some point," he said in a message to the Bee.
To All UA Cossatot Students
The safety of our students is our number one concern at UA Cossatot, and the coronavirus pandemic has made this more important than ever. We want our students to learn and we want them to have a safe environment in which to learn. That is why effective IMMEDIATELY all UA Cossatot campuses will be closed to students that take on-campus courses. All UA Cossatot campuses will be locked to outside individuals as well. This mirrors today’s announcement by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson that all K12 schools will be closed at least through spring break.
Students, your education is important to us, that is why we have also created an online component to every in-class course at UA Cossatot. While you are away from campus, your instructors will still be able to work with you to ensure you get the most out of your education during these very trying times. You will be learning even more about that this week.
This campus closure is for ALL campuses and will be reevaluated after spring break. At that time, we will determine whether we need to keep the campuses closed or reopen them at that time. I urge you all to visit our website to learn more about the coronavirus and ways you can protect yourself. Please wash your hands often and practice social distancing if you can.
Thank you for your time. We appreciate you!
Dr. Steve Cole
Chancellor
UAC
From the Office of the Chancellor
In the UA Cossatot update that was sent on March 12th, we indicated that the Coronovirus situation was extremely fluid and could change at a moment’s notice. That moment is now as earlier today Governor Hutchinson and Education Secretary Key announced that all K12 schools will be closed this week. Our institution has a wonderfully close working relationship with all of our K12 districts and we share many of the same students. With that being said, UA Cossatot will follow suit and will close our campuses to students this week. We will continue to be closed to students until after spring break, where, at that time, we will reevaluate the Coronavirus situation. Our campuses will also be locked and closed to visitors and outside entities.
All UA Cossatot employees will be working on Monday. We will assess that situation on a day-to-day basis.
All UA Cossatot courses have been converted to have an online component and faculty will have the ability to teach this week via the Blackboard Learning System. While our maintenance department has already been working overtime to keep our campuses clean, over the next two weeks we will have the opportunity to deep clean our campuses as per CDC guidelines.
Please know that our campus will continue to work closely with the University of Arkansas System Office, UAMS, and other government entities to ensure our pandemic plan regarding COVID-19 continues to protect our students, employees, and other stakeholders.
UA Cossatot will continue to update our status on our cccua.edu website, our ED88 Facebook page, and other media outlets. These are very different times that call for very different measures and we appreciate our community’s understanding of this necessary decision.
Regards,
Dr. Steve Cole
Chancellor, UA Cossatot
Nashville City Park Temporarily Closed
Park closed until further notice.
The Nashville city park is closed to the public until further notice. If you had an event scheduled in the park such as a pavilion or park building rented for sometime in March, please call our office after 9 a.m. Monday to reschedule or to cancel.
Please understand this is not a decision that was made without much thought and direction. I will pass along more information with regards to park events as information becomes available.
Mark Dale, City of Nashville Director of Parks.
Arkansas Temporarily Closing Public Schools
BREAKING NEWS: The Arkansas Department of Education in collaboration with the Arkansas Department of Health is closing all public schools STATEWIDE starting Tuesday, March 17th until Monday, March 30th. Districts MAY close on Monday, March 16 if they are prepared to do so.
Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught
While the state response to COVID-19 is one that is rapidly evolving, we do want to update you on the latest developments.
Late Friday afternoon, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced he will amend an executive order to allow expanded use of telemedicine in the state. The Governor also announced he is providing additional resources to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) which will create 10 new lab positions and assist with much-needed help at the call center.
Additionally, the state has requested and will receive more personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical personnel and first responders.
As of Friday afternoon, there is a total of 9 presumed positive cases in Arkansas. The patients with presumed positive test results reside in the central Arkansas region. Schools in Pulaski, Grant, Jefferson, and Saline counties are currently closed. Residents in these counties are being asked to limit large gatherings to 200 people or less.
On Monday, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) issued a public health directive to long-term care facilities across the state to question visitors about their travel over the past 14 days and to screen visitors and staff for signs of illness and fever.
All Arkansans are being asked to reconsider every trip out of state.
Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, Medical Director for Outbreak Response at ADH, advised that if you are showing symptoms (including coughing, fever, and shortness of breath), you should consult your primary care provider instead of county health units or the hospital.
If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.
While ADH is currently limited in the number of tests they can administer, physicians can order tests from commercial labs.
UAMS has set up a coronavirus hotline for people who have questions or feel they may have symptoms. The number is 1-800-632-4502. UAMS HealthNow is also available for free COVID-19 screenings.
To access, go to UAMS HealthNow and click on “Begin Screening.”
This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to patients of all ages across the state of Arkansas and is accessible from a smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer with video capabilities.
Arkansas Children’s Hospital announced that any family with children health questions related to COVID-19 can call 1-800-743-3616.
ADH has activated a call center to answer questions from health care providers and the public about the novel coronavirus. During normal business hours (8:00 am – 4:30 pm), urgent and non-urgent calls, please call 1-800-803-7847. After normal business hours, urgent calls needing immediate response, please call 501-661-2136.
Howard County Memorial COVID19 Preparedness
Cossatot VFD Fish Fry, Auction and Membership Drive
Ed 88’s Loren Hinton visited with Kendall Johnson, Archie Johnson, and Roy Stover of the Cossatot VFD about their upcoming fish fry, auction, and membership drive.
Jonquil Festival Cancelled at Historic Washington State Park
Horatio Team Advancing to All-State
Gov. Hutchinson, ADE Announce Teams Advancing to All-State Coding Competition Including Team From Horatio
LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Department of Education announced today the 17 teams advancing to the Fourth Annual All-State Coding Competition in May. Sixteen teams are winners of All-Region Coding Competitions that took place Feb. 28 around the state. Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, the school that produced the first-place team at the 2019 state competition, will receive an automatic invitation to send a team to the 2020 state competition.
"Congratulations to the 17 teams that qualified for the Annual Governor’s All-State Coding Competition,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. “This competition is an excellent showcase for our students' creativity, and I look forward to seeing the bright and talented students on this year’s teams demonstrate impressive levels of innovation and skill in coding." The ADE Office of Computer Science used a rubric to score each team that participated in the regional events.
The following teams have been selected to advance to the state competition. ASMSA in Hot Springs – Karsen Beck, Dunagan Evans, and Trinity Robinson Bentonville High School in Bentonville – Katherine Pearce, Mekhi Scullawl, and Caleb Jones Bentonville West High School in Bentonville – Karina Batra and Ryder Johnson Cabot High School in Cabot – Ethan Peck, Tyler Lacroix, and Addison Zheng Central Junior High School in Springdale – Jackson Daniel, Audrey Shellhammer, and Connor Simmons Clinton High School in Clinton – Titus Johnson, Alex Prosser, and Reynaldo Saavedra Conway High School in Conway – Ethan Moss, Brian Russell, and Kevin Lewis Don Tyson School of Innovation in Springdale – Lucas Kellar, James Cassady, and Benjamin Easterling Fayetteville High School in Fayetteville – Gabriel Giarratana, Katherine Pummill, and Minsoo Song Greenbrier High School in Greenbrier – Geoffrey Shoemaker, Hayden Herman, and Christian Watts Greenwood High School in Greenwood – Shea Brown, Jackson Stewart, and William Hutchinson Haas Hall Academy in Fayetteville – Owen Bell, Julian Sanker, and Daniel Whitmire Har-Ber High School in Springdale – Samuel Lonneman, Jesse Ford, and Melvin Vizueth Horatio High School in Horatio – Jacob Brecheisen, Duncan Connor, and Hannah Norman Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro – Matthew Sherman, Kyle Clayton, and Eric Seglem Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock – Hetvi Shah, Alex Borengasser, and Anne Li Rogers New Technology High School in Rogers – Volodymyr Miata, David Daniel, and Joshua Thomson
Each member of the first-place team at the state competition will receive a $2,000 award that will be deposited into a 529 College Savings Plan. Each member of the second-place team will receive a $1,000 award deposited into a 529 College Savings Plan, with each member of the third-place team receiving a $500 award deposited into a 529 College Savings Plan. In addition, the schools that register/sponsor the first, second, and third-place teams will receive $10,000, $6,000, and $4,000 (respectively) to support their computer science programs.
The prizes and competition expenses are paid for with a Verizon grant to ARCodeKids. ADE extends congratulations to the advancing team members, sponsors, and schools. In addition, all 16 hosting locations are to be commended for the work of their staff in making the regional events successful and fun for students.
Teams advancing to the state competition will receive an official invitation with more details by April 17, 2020. Follow us on Twitter @ArkansasEd. Like us on Facebook at Arkansas Department of Education. Follow us on Instagram at arkansas_ed.
