Arkansas Department of Health

The Arkansas Senate narrowly voted Thursday to keep state Health Secretary Dr. José Romero in his position, despite criticism from some senators over his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wasting no time, the Arkansas legislature overrode Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s veto of HB 1570 on Tuesday (April 6). The governor vetoed the measure on Monday calling it a “vast government overreach” and “well-intended” but “off course.”

The Craighead County Local Health Unit in Jonesboro on Tuesday will have a vaccination clinic starting at 9:30 A.M. and lasting until 6 P.M. The Crittenden County Local Health Unit in West Memphis will have a clinic from 9:30 A.M. until 6 P.M.

Arkansas' Department of Health has COVID vaccination clinics set up across the state on Monday.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday (March 30) lifted the statewide mask mandate even as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urged governors to not lift such restrictions. Gov. Hutchinson also on Tuesday opened vaccine eligibility to all Arkansans age 16 and older.

Vaccination events are planned on Wednesday in Osceola, ASU Jonesboro, and West Memphis.

Vaccination clinics are scheduled in Pemiscot Co., Missouri, and in Mississippi Co. and Crittenden Co. in Arkansas.

Vaccination clinics will be open for eligible Arkansans in Blytheville, Osceola, and West Memphis.

With around 10% of Arkansans being fully vaccinated and a push by the Biden administration to open vaccine access, Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday (March 16) expanded eligibility an estimated 1.2 million Arkansans in the 1c category.

As the nation and the world marks one year since the COVID-19 pandemic officially began, Arkansans are remembering the nearly 5,400 residents who have died from the disease since the state saw its first coronavirus case one year ago Thursday.