The state of Arkansas, which now has 174 confirmed cases of coronavirus, is taking the epidemic very seriously, but has not yet shut down the state, Gov. Asa Hutchinson told Newsmax TV Monday.

"We have no plans at the present time," Hutchinson told Newsmax TV's Chris Salcedo. "Obviously this changes day by day and we watch it."

Part of the reason the state is not under a shelter-in-place order is because the citizens are following orders on self-distancing, the governor said.

"If they will do what they should do, in terms of their personal healthcare and the distancing, we can go about our central business," said Hutchinson. "The states that have shelter in place, they continue to exempt their manufacturing, they continue to exempt essential businesses, which is very broad in our society."

In addition, one must ask the question that if businesses are shut down, "how do you restart them?" said Hutchinson.

There have been some businesses ordered to shut down, with restaurants and bars to only serve takeout or delivery orders, and others such tattoo businesses to close for a period of time, and the state still remains ahead of the curve compared to other places.

Coronavirus testing has also been expanded "significantly," in the state, Hutchinson said, and calls are going out "everywhere in the world" while trying to procure the supplies the hospitals in Arkansas will need.

The governor added that the Trump administration has been an "excellent partner" in the coronavirus battle, but it is a "big disadvantage" for a smaller state like his to compete with New York or California on getting supplies.

"All of these issues are difficult to manage," he said. Also, there is the question of whether a business should convert to making ventilators when there are companies in New York, California, or elsewhere doing the same thing.