There has been a recent decline in testing in Arkansas. At one point 1,600 tests were being performed daily. Now the average is 1,000. The Governor is now launching a 2-day testing surge campaign. If you have think you have symptoms, don’t wait. Get tested. The goal is to have 1,500 tested daily on Friday and Saturday.
The Governor’s Working Group to Expand COVID-19 Testing met this week and has made the following recommendations:
·       Expand PCR testing for all patients with COVID-19 symptoms and a history of potential exposure
·       Expand PCR testing for contact investigations
·       Screen for COVID-19 in high-risk settings
·       Develop a strategy for a statewide serosurveillance (antibody testing)

Previously contact tracing testing was only done if the patient also had symptoms. Because of an increase in availability of testing, an individual was in contact with someone who has tested positive can be tested regardless of symptoms.
Of the 189 new cases reported today, 122 are from the Cummins Unit. To date, 687 inmates and 35 staff have tested positive at Cummins.

2020 Covid-19_infographic_2020-04-23.pdf