Arkansas Loosens COVID-19 Restrictions
If case counts and vaccination rates maintain their current trajectories, Arkansas will end its mask mandate effective March 31, Gov. Hutchinson announced today. He also changed existing COVID-19 directives to "guidelines," removing the threat of penalties for restaurants, bars, gyms and other businesses that don't follow state standards for seating capacity and social distancing.
"We've had increased public education, so the public knows exactly what is needed to stop the spread of the virus. They know where they can go safely, where they can't go safely, and they can make those judgments," Gov. Hutchinson said at the news conference.
He clarified that rules around quarantine and isolation would remain in place.
AR Legislature Passes PPP Forgiveness Bill
On Thursday, the Arkansas Senate approved a bill to exempt income from pandemic relief funds and loans from state income tax. It is now awaiting the governor's signature.
The bill, HB1361, would exempt income that taxpayers received through certain federal COVID-19 relief programs, including loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), from state individual and corporate income taxes.
Two additional COVID-19 related bills, HB1487 and HB1488, aim to limit business liability (HB1487) and provide workers' compensation benefits (HB1488). Both are awaiting committee reviews.
Vaccination Age Requirement Lowered to 65
As part of his weekly COVID-19 update, Gov. Hutchinson announced the minimum age for Arkansans to receive the COVID-19 vaccination was changing from 70 to 65.
In an effort to vaccinate eligible Arkansans, J.B. Hunt hosted a mass vaccination event today at which 3,000 Arkansans received their first dose of the Moderna vaccine.
Arkansas is still in Phase 1-B of the vaccination distribution plan. As vaccine supply increases in the coming weeks, the groups eligible to receive the vaccine under Phase 1-B will expand. Later we will move into Phase 1-C which includes essential workers like truck drivers.
The Arkansas Trucking Association continues to support the safe, rapid deployment of the vaccine to the most susceptible populations; however, we will continue to lobby on behalf of the transportation industry to vaccinate drivers as soon as possible.
Drivers are delivering hope and health back to our communities. We will continue to work with Gov. Hutchinson and health department officials to demonstrate the value our drivers provide to all Arkansans, and impress upon them the importance and urgency of vaccinating this group of essential workers.