LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Arkansas will lift restrictions currently in place banning elective procedures in the state beginning Monday, April 27th, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced.
“That is earlier than what we expected but we with our number of hospitalizations, with the limited spread across the state, we feel comfortable with that,” Hutchinson said.
According to Health Secretary Dr. Nate Smith, hospitals will begin accepting day-surgery patients but will not yet perform procedures requiring an overnight stay.
“Initially we’re going to encourage the facilities to start with a low volume and to build up and to make sure they have adequate supplies of PPE,” said Smith.
Patients will be required to have had no contact with a COVID-19 patient over the previous 14 days and must not exhibit any symptoms. The patients will also be tested for COVID-19 within 48 hours of their procedure.
