Governor Hutchinson today ordered a state-wide mandate for face coverings, beginning on Monday, July 20th, in response to the growing number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, and in conjunction with healthcare experts.
Masks covering the mouth and nose are required for all persons in Arkansas for all indoor and outdoor settings, with exposure to non-household members where social distancing cannot be assured.
For indoor funeral services, if you can assure that members of separate households will remain six-feet apart at all times then the wearing of masks is not mandated. If this cannot be assured at all times, then all guests 10 years of age or older must wear a face covering. For outdoor services, masks are required unless guests will remain six-feet apart at all times.
This mandate does not change the number of people that can attend these gatherings, which remain the same. Indoor gatherings can be up to 100 people, or 2/3 capacity. Outdoor gatherings have no numerical limit. All gatherings of over 100 people must follow the ADH-approved plan, submitted by AFDA which can be read here.
Full details of the Governor’s mandate can be read below.