1/x As I skim the #COVID19 #coronavirus headlines tonight I realize that here in the United States this story is primarily playing out in a venue that is very near to my heart: the Emergency Departments (EDs) of our nation. #arpx #ARnews 2/x While all of health care will be affected by this pandemic, it goes without saying that the EDs of our country will be the primary recipients of the majority of these #coronavirus patients, especially those who are the most ill. #arpx #ARnews

1/x There are 230 #COVID19 #coronavirus cases now in Arkansas. I’ve been having conversations with many health care providers around the state, and one in particular stands out. This colleague is an Emergency Medicine physician who works outside of central Arkansas ... #arpx 2/x and at the beginning of the week we had a conversation about when we thought the wave of #COVID19 patients would hit. Days later he sent me a follow up text and said, “I’m feeling the water at my toes.” This colleague is now reporting a few #coronavirus patients ... #arpx

1/x I want to mention something to the people of Arkansas that I believe will be encouraging to them. Many of you have watched @AsaHutchinson ‘s press conferences and seen presentations by Dr. Nate Smith, the state’s Secretary of Health at @ADHPIO . However, for many ... #arpx 2/x of you, this may be the first time you’ve seen Nate. If so, it is easy to miss what an amazing asset he is for our state. Nate is an MD but he also has a Masters degree in Public Health. He is a specialist in Infectious Disease and served on the mission field... #arpx

1/x I wanted to send out a quick message tonight because I know families are very concerned about #Covid_19 and the risks of #coronavirus . Here’s the straight scoop: It is concerning. We know the virus is highly transmissible and in a small percentage of patients... #arpx 2/x can be quite severe. Children can catch the disease and transmit it but don’t seem to get severely ill. However, those with chronic illnesses or in older age groups have had significant severity. This is concerning, as is the rate of infection of healthcare workers. #arpx