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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 21, 2020

Governor’s Working Group To Expand COVID-19
Testing Capacity Will Meet for First Time Today

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson has created the Governor’s COVID-19 Testing Working Group to make recommendations to expand the capacity and performance of COVID-19 testing in the state, the Governor announced at a news conference today. The working group will meet virtually for the first time at 3 p.m. today.

“Arkansas’s ability to conduct adequate diagnostic and surveillance testing will affect the state’s public-health strategy and economic-recovery efforts after Arkansas reaches its peak number of COVID-19 cases,” Governor Hutchinson said. “As we prepare to shift Arkansas’s economy out of low gear, it is important for us to have more comprehensive information about the spread of COVID-19 in the state.”

The working group will include senior representatives of the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Baptist Health of Arkansas, and Arkansas Children’s. These leaders will examine the state’s supply of testing equipment and make recommendations to maintain adequate testing capabilities and conduct surveillance testing across the state.

Members of the Governor’s COVID-19 Testing Working Group are:

Dr. Nathaniel Smith, ADH

Dr. Glen Baker, ADH

Dr. Naveen Patil, ADH

Dr. Katie Seely, ADH

Dr. Jennifer Hunt, UAMS

Dr. Jose Romero, ADH, UAMS, Arkansas Children’s

Dr. Atul Kothari, ADH, UAMS

Mr. Robin Mitchell, Arkansas Children’s

Dr. Bobby Boyanton, Arkansas Children’s 

Read Executive Order 20-21 HERE ([link removed]). 

MEDIA CONTACT: Press Shop ([email protected])

If you are not a member of the media and have questions or concerns about COVID-19, you can contact the Arkansas Department of Health at 1-800-803-7847 or visit ar.gov/covid ([link removed]).

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Governor's Office State Capitol | 500 Woodlane Street, Suite 250 | Little Rock, AR 72201 US

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