
Arkansas has moved its back-to-school date from August 13 to August 24, but that date will not be pushed beyond August 26, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday.
In their decision, state officials wanted to give “school districts more time to make necessary adjustments for the blending learning environment. We are committed to schools, on-site instruction,” Hutchinson told reporters in Little Rock, before adding that “we believe this is the right decision.”
The governor also presented a three-prong approach to respond to infections in schools, ranging from a limited to a critical response.
The latest numbers: The state recorded at least 802 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total number to approximately 26,052, Hutchinson said.
The new daily “case number is high but predictable,” the governor said.
With four new deaths reported Thursday, there have been a total of at least 309 people who have died from the virus, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.