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Arkansas State Capitol To Reopen Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Arkansas State Capitol
Chris Hickey
/
KUAR News

On Monday, June 1, the Arkansas State Capitol will re-open to the public, but not without new restrictions. Chris Powell, a spokesman for the Arkansas Secretary of State office, which oversees the Capitol grounds, says that visitors will be asked "basic questions, based on recommendations from the Department of Health, about things like fever, sickness, and travel" as they enter the building in an effort to minimize potential exposure to COVID-19 within the building.

The Capitol has been closed to the public since March 13, which was two days after the first case of the coronavirus was confirmed in Arkansas. State Capitol Police will be "verbally asking temperature checks" and "recommending that people will continue to observe social distancing" upon entrance to the building, says Powell.

Individual departments and offices within the Capitol building may enforce additional safety procedures before allowing people to enter. The information desk on the first floor will be staffed, but there will be no guided tours offered. Visitors may, however, go on self-guided tours. The gift shop and 500 Grill on the lower level will remain closed.

In the past few months, state business has continued at the Capitol. Gov. Asa Hutchinson has held regular press briefings, while the Arkansas General Assembly met twice, though members of the House met at the Jack Stephens Center on the UA Little Rock campus to allow for appropriate distancing, while members of the Senate were spread out in their chamber at the Capitol.

Powell says hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout the building, while Arkansas Capitol Police will monitor the situation.

Michael Hibblen was a journalist for KUAR News from May 2009 — December 2022. During his final 10 years with the station, he served as News Director. In January 2023, he was hired by Arkansas PBS to become its Senior Producer/ Director of Public Affairs.
Phoebe Sanders was an intern for KUAR's news department from December 2019 through August 2020. She is graduate in 2021 from Episcopal Collegiate School, and hopes to study political science and religious studies in college.
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