Notice from Johnye Fisher of Sevier County Libraries

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Attention: Beginning Wednesday March 18, 2020 through March 30, 2020 All Sevier County Libraries will be closed to the public.

The open day may change. We will be here normal hours for any questions and items can be dropped off in the drop boxes and will be sanitized and we will be here to answer any questions you may have. We are sorry that we are having to close but for your safety and ours it is necessary.

Thank you,

Johnye Fisher

Head Librarian

Sevier County Library System

200 W Stilwell Ave

De Queen, AR. 71832

870-584-4364 (Phone)

870-642-8319 (Fax)

Bowie County has its First Presumptive Case of COVID-19

TEXARKANA, TX- The first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 in Bowie County, TX has been identified. We are awaiting confirmation from the Texas Department of State Health Services. More details will be released as they become available.

Bowie County has its first presumptive case of COVID-19

Texarkana News TEXARKANA, TX- The first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 in Bowie County, TX has been identified. We are awaiting confirmation from the Texas Department of State Health Services. More details will be released as they become available. Mar. 16 2020 @ 6:05pm

The Bowie County/City of Texarkana, TX Emergency Operations Center is now operating Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call (903) 255-5560.

VIDEO - Making Food Available for At Risk Students in De Queen During School Closure

Meeting to discuss making food available for at risk students in De Queen during school closure. Meeting at Memorial Baptist Church.

The program to provide grab and go sack lunches will begin Tuesday, March 17 from 11-1 at the De Queen Fire Station. Meals are available to all children 18 and under all lunches are free. Children must be present in vehicle and meals to be consumed off site.
Lunches on Tuesday will be prepared by De Queen First Assembly.
Wednesday - First Baptist.
Thursday - Memorial Baptist.
Friday - Church of Christ.
Monday - St Barbara's Catholic Church.
Tuesday March 24 - Templo De Alabanza.

Special thanks to Ranch House Cafe, Simple Simon's Pizza, and De Queen Auto Group. Anyone wishing to donate to this cause should contact Ranch House Cafe. Students in need of lunches should contact the school administration office at 870-584-4312.

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

Take steps to protect others

Stay home if you’re 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
      OR

    • 4 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.).

Complete disinfection guidance

More handwashing tips

Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings

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:

https://www.dequeenbee.com

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:

https://www.dequeenbee.com

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.