Gov. Asa Hutchinson provides an update on coronavirus in the state on Sunday afternoon in this screenshot from a live feed of a news conference.

5:50 p.m. UPDATE

Jessieville Superintendent Melissa Speers says the school district will be closed for students all week. The staff will report on Monday.

"These will be AMI days," she said. Packets will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday for elementary students and students without internet access. "If students have internet but no device, we are providing devices for them. Meals will be provided for students. Parents can either pick them up or they will be delivered via bus routes."

4:30 p.m. UPDATE

Mountain Pine School District says in a Facebook post that it will also be closed to on-campus instruction starting Monday through the end of spring break, March 30.

"Students will still have school using AMI packets and resources online and teachers will be checking in daily to answer questions and offer assistance," the post said.

There will be no athletic practices or extracurricular activities.

Parent/teacher conferences will be postponed until Thursday, April 9.

Beginning Tuesday, the district will offer breakfast from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. in a “grab and go” manner in the cafeteria. Families will be able to come and take home meals Tuesday-Friday, but not during spring break; no one will be able to eat in the cafeteria.

3:55 p.m. UPDATE

Cutter Morning Star will be closed beginning Monday and through spring break, with school scheduled to resume on March 30. "Please check our social media accounts for future updates," the school said on its Facebook page.

3:48 p.m. UPDATE

The Lake Hamilton School District will be closed beginning Monday through spring break, March 23–27. "At this time, school is scheduled to re-open on Monday, March 30," the district said in a post on its Facebook page.

All previously scheduled campus activities, including extra-curricular events and athletic practices, have been canceled during this time, March 16-29.

The five regular school days missed, March 16 -20, will be considered Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) days. All students have received AMI assignments. Students should complete AMI Day Assignments 1–5.

"District and school offices will be open on Monday, March 16, to answer your calls and to provide materials, if needed," the post said.

Breakfast and lunch will be available as a “grab and go” option for children 18 years and younger on Monday. Meals will be available out of the high school cafeteria (breakfast from 8-10 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Meals will be “grab and go” from the curb of the high school cafeteria (located behind the high school). Food service employees will deliver meals to each vehicle. More information regarding meal opportunities for the remainder of the week will be released soon.

3:45 p.m. UPDATE

The Fountain Lake School District will also be closed beginning Monday, according to a post on the school's Facebook page.

AMI Days C-O-B-R-A will be utilized for instruction. "At this time, on-campus instruction will resume Monday, March 30."

Students in grades K-6 should have AMI packets. Students in grades 7-12 have Google Classrooms for each class. There should be assignments in those classes that can be accessed without connectivity. The students’ work will upload when they return to campus.

Teachers will be available by email and Dojo to answer questions from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.

Students have three days to complete AMI work for each day out. For example, Monday, March 16 assignments must be completed by Wednesday, April 1. March 17 is due by April 2.

There are access points on Safe Room A that can be reached from the parking lot, the post said.

3:30 p.m. UPDATE:

Lakeside Superintendent Shawn Cook has posted a message on the school's Facebook page, that, beginning Monday, Lakeside will be closed for onsite instruction and will begin digital instruction.

"Our district and building offices will remain open to answer your calls and to provide materials if needed," the message said.

Lakeside School District will reopen on Monday, March 30, "pending approval of state agencies. All sporting events, practices, and activities have been canceled until further notice."

These days will be classified as Alternative Method of Instruction days, the message said.

"Your student should have a device that they are able to continue their education through digital instruction. If your student does not have a device or did not bring one home, please contact your principal. Breakfast and lunch will be available tomorrow if needed. Additional details will be provided soon."

The Hot Springs School District will be closed starting Monday, and through the week of March 16-20, and will be on Alternative Methods of Instruction days, according to a post on its Facebook page.

Schools will then be closed for normal closure through spring break. Hot Springs schools will reopen on Monday, March 30. All sporting events and school activities have also been canceled during this time.

"Our school front offices, only, will be open throughout the week of March 16-20 during AMI Days, if parents need to pick up AMI materials, technology devices, or have questions. No buses will run. All athletic facilities will also be closed throughout this time (no practices, games, or outside use will be allowed until March 30.)," it said.

"We will be providing free grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches during AMI Days on March 16-20 (but, not during Spring Break). Teachers and staff members will be available online to work with students and parents during AMI Days March 16-20."

Click here for the full free meal schedule.

2 p.m. UPDATE:

The Arkansas Department of Health on Sunday confirmed two cases of COVID-19 involving a Garland County couple who had traveled out of state.

Dr. Nathaniel Smith, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health, said the two cases had been confirmed through a commercial lab. Smith, speaking during an afternoon news conference at the Arkansas Department of Health in Little Rock, said there was no exposure to children or a school.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the couple had traveled out of state, self-isolated and didn't come into contact with anyone else. He added they had "handled it well."

Joining Smith and Hutchinson at the news conference were Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Dr. Chancellor Cam Patterson, and Arkansas Department of Education Secretary Johnny Key.

Hutchinson also said that, beginning Tuesday, all schools in the state would close to on-site instruction.

On Monday, superintendents will have the option of closing, but after that, it's mandatory, Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson noted that Arkansas schools will be on spring break beginning March 23.

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

The visitation and funeral for Officer 1st Class Brent Scrimshire on Monday will be open to the public at Horner Hall in the Hot Springs Convention Center "to allow the public to pay respects and honor their fallen officer," despite the coronavirus threat, the Hot Springs Police Department said Saturday in a news release.

The department had previously said that the services would be limited to 200 guests, including family and police department personnel, with a public viewing in Horner Hall.

Also Saturday, Corey Alderdice, the director of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, clarified that the school is not closing but adapting its mode of instruction to the current coronavirus situation, and Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, which ran the Rebel Stakes to an empty grandstand, issued an updated statement about the unprecedented event.

"We have been intentional on this point, as fellow campuses within the University of Arkansas system have shifted to digital or remote instruction but have not suspended campus operations. The school itself remains open and employees will report for work as usual on Monday. This is an important distinction, especially given the uncertainty, speculation, and general fear that is associated with this virus," Alderdice said in an email.

"We have also been especially mindful of the local Garland County school districts in our rhetoric because many families and citizens may not fully understand that their decision rests with the state Secretary of Health and Secretary of Education rather than the usual local control of administrators and the school board per updates in a Commissioner's memo from earlier this week," Alderdice said.

Hot Springs Police Chief Jason Stachey said the decision to reopen Monday's visitation and funeral to the public was "based on the feelings of the Scrimshire family."

"The outpouring of feedback in support of opening the visitation and memorial service back to the public, despite the possible risk from this unprecedented virus outbreak, is further testament to the tremendous impact Officer Scrimshire has had on the Hot Springs community," Stachey said in the release.

"The process for making tough decisions regarding the services have been fluid based on information available at the time each decision was made. The decision to again make the service open to the public is based on the feelings of the Scrimshire family."

The visitation and memorial services will be as follows:

Today

• Visitation -- 1-4 p.m., Regency Funeral Home, Malvern.

Monday

• Visitation -- Noon to 2 p.m., Horner Hall, Hot Springs Convention Center. Open to the public.

• Memorial Service -- 2 p.m., Horner Hall. Open to the public. The service will also be livestreamed at http://www.youtube.com/cityofhotsprings.

• Procession and internment -- Immediately following the ceremony and private family viewing from the Hot Springs Convention Center to Oakridge Cemetery in Malvern.

Although the visitation and service are open to the public, "those considering attendance should use appropriate precautions, as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control. Those who should not attend any public gathering include anyone who has traveled outside the United States or in an area where COVID-19 is spreading; anyone who may have been exposed to the virus; or those exhibiting respiratory or flu-like symptoms," the release said.

In addition to the livefeed, respects can be paid along the processional, which will travel along Highway 270 and Malvern Avenue.

"We want to thank the leadership and all of the staff at the Hot Springs Convention Center for working closely with us through this planning process. They have been working long hours to prepare for this important public event and to disinfect the entire facility. They also have hand-sanitizing stations at the entrances," City Manager Bill Burrough said in the release.

"Although we are outside of the four-county area in the state with presumed cases of COVID-19, we still must act responsibly and are asking the public to act responsibly and use sound judgment."

Also on Saturday, Erin Baber, public relations/marketing coordinator for the Garland County Library, said the AARP volunteers who prepare free income tax returns for Garland County residents have suspended their services at the Garland County Library. Their location at the McAuley center was shut down earlier this week.

The AARP prepares between 1,500 and 2,000 tax returns every year at the library location alone, Baber said.

Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, which decided on Thursday to not allow spectators into the facility for racing this weekend "out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of everyone's safety given that the track was expecting over 40,000 fans for this Rebel Stakes weekend," issued an updated statement regarding its casino operation on Saturday.

"Racing is a sport. Since all other sporting events around the country have either ended their season early or are holding events without spectators, Oaklawn simply followed suit," the statement said.

"Meanwhile, the casino and sportsbook are staying open at this time -- just as most other casinos in the country are also open. The casino floor represents a more manageable environment for Oaklawn's diligent cleaning staff, which is meeting or exceeding the cleaning protocols as set by the CDC and local/state health officials. The increased health and safety precautions that have been implemented to date include increased access to hand-sanitizing stations and more frequent cleaning and disinfecting activities," it said.

"It is important to note that retailers, restaurants and other entertainment venues are also remaining open during this time. Guests can watch and bet on this weekend's races inside the sportsbook (casino). Online wagering is also available through the OaklawnAnywhere app and OaklawnAnywhere.com (AR residents), as well as TwinSpires.com and TVG.com (for non-AR residents)."

Oaklawn said that, "similar to other restaurants in the region," its Silks Bar & Grill, Bistro 2705 and Track Kitchen are open and operating as usual.

Local on 03/15/2020