Retail stores in Arkansas will be opening up next week.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced during the Friday press briefing that all retail stores will be allowed to reopen on Monday, May 18. The one exception to his announcement is bars, but there is a planned announcement on bars scheduled for Monday.
“That’s just a sign as to how people are ready to work. They’re opening up,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson emphasized that the state had never shut down its economy fully and had never issued a lock-down or shelter-in-place order.
“But Arkansas, as is indicated behind me, we are open for business here and ready for business,” he said, referring the “Ready for Business” logos on a backdrop.
While many retail businesses remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic, many closed due to a lack of consumer demand. Hutchinson said that this “reopening” is meant to remind Arkansas citizens that the economy is “open for business” and that all retail businesses – including those that previously were restricted – have been allowed to operate.
“I’m just reminding people that we didn’t shut down. We are open for business, and even the ones we had restrictions on, they are open for business. Everything in Arkansas, effective Monday except that one item that we hope to announce some decision on Monday in terms of bars,” he said.
“While we take the virus very seriously, we recognize the need to work and make a living. We want to continue to the next phase to continue to lift restrictions on businesses and activities in Arkansas, but we have to be smart about it. It’s important to put it in perspective that while there are some restrictions out there, all retail stores in Arkansas are open for business as of next Monday,” he said.
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