Mayor: Following Hutchinson's lead
Mayor Joe Smith announced Thursday that the city will follow Gov. Asa Hutchinson's lead when it comes to decisions on measures to slow the spread of covid-19.
Smith held his first of what he said will become a weekly video announcement on the covid-19 situation in North Little Rock. He said in the video that Hutchinson was the spokesman for the city and whatever he decides is what the city will do.
"The No. 1 thing to do during an emergency is to have one person who leads the way," Smith said. "The governor is our go-to guy."
The city has decided not to implement a curfew at this time, but Smith said he is monitoring the situation closely.
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Smith said he has limited public access to city facilities and offices for the time being, and will continue to reevaluate those closures. He said officials are working on alternative methods to allow the city businesses to go on.
The mayor called the situation a "health emergency" but said he is confident that the city will be able to bounce back from the crisis. He said a recovery plan is in progress.
"Stay calm, follow the rules, this will pass, and life will get back to normal," Smith said in the video.
Parks' restrooms shut as precaution
The restrooms in all North Little Rock city parks were closed Wednesday in a bid to limit the spread of covid-19, officials said.
The city is making the decision based on U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for managing the cleaning of the park facilities. The virus can survive 72 hours on a variety of surfaces, according to a news release.
The city plans to reopen the restrooms when the Arkansas Department of Health says its safe.
Metro on 03/29/2020