HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-08-31 - Agendas - FinalCITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE MEETING AGENDA
ARKANSAS
Fayetteville City Board of Health
8/31 /2020
7:00 a.m.
Virtual Meeting
Members: Hershey Garner, Lenny Whiteman, Huda Sharaf, Gary Berner
Ex-Officio Members: Stephanie Ho, Meredith Lowry, Lioneld Jordan, Brad Hardin
Health Officer: Marti Sharkey
Guest:
1. Call to Order and Roll Call — Hershey Garner, Chair (5 minutes)
2. Discuss letter to the Governor
a. The letter request antigen test to be included in the Governor's report.
3. Other Business
Adjourn
Meeting Location Information:
httDs://zoom.us/i/98157956419?Dwd=QUr)FbFRxd3JYcmxHVORZcVJr)WDQ1 QT09
Meeting ID: 981 5795 6419
Passcode:715236
Mailing Address:
113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Ii
CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE
ARKANSA5
Fayetteville Board of Health
City Health Officer
City of Fayetteville
113 West Mountain Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701
August 29, 2020
Governor Asa Hutchinson
State Capitol Room 250
500 Woodlane Ave.
Little Rock, AR 72201
Dr. Jose Romero
4815 West Markham
Little Rock, AR 72205
Dear Governor Hutchinson and Dr. Romero,
We are reaching out to you today to request your assistance in controlling the Covid-19 outbreak that is
occurring in Fayetteville. During Friday's press conference, Dr. Romero referred to the outbreak
occurring on the campus at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville as alarming, and we could not
agree more. And the situation is much worse than you reported.
Due to the delays in obtaining polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results and the ease of obtaining an
antigen test locally with results available in 15 minutes, many, if not most, of our residents with either
mild symptoms and/or known contacts are being tested with antigen tests. Since the Arkansas
Department of Health does not report antigen tests, we are obtaining, to the best of our ability, the
results of these rapid antigen tests from our local clinics.
Starting Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Martha Sharkey, our City Health Officer, was starting to see both an
increase in positivity in the antigen tests as well as emerging clusters associated with the University of
Arkansas as well as local bars and restaurants. She passed on her concerns to the Board of Health, which
includes professionals at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville as well as the University of Arkansas
for Medical Sciences. This resulted in quick action from the University as well as ADH, and we now have
two mass testing events occurring on campus next week.
Unfortunately, at this time we do not know how far this highly contagious virus has already spread
within our community. While we appreciate the local data provided by the Arkansas Center for Health
Mailing Address:
113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Initiatives, is does not include antigen tests results. Since a significant number of these antigen tests are
being run in our community, it is imperative that we have the full reporting of these test results in order
to inform our community of the spread of this disease, provide proper medical guidance, and, our
ultimate goal, to save lives. Yesterday, ADH told us that this information would be available soon. We
are asking that you provide us with this information in an expedited manner.
Sincerely,
Hershey Garner, MD, JD Martha Ann B. Sharkey, MD, FAAP
Chair, Fayetteville Board of Health City Health Officer