Beat Story 2

Local businesses are closed due to the concerns of the Coronavirus spreading, Mike Peters, chief of police in Springdale, Arkansas, said in a letter to the community.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson ordered bars, restaurants, gyms and salons in Arkansas to close until further notice in order to encourage social distancing, and local businesses are speaking out.

Mike Lawson, a city council member, said the city is monitoring the situation and are adapting to the changes.

“The city is leaning on the advice from the governor and the directives from the CDC to help with the spread of the virus,” Lawson said.

Stephanie Robinson, owner and operator of Sire Boutique in Downtown Springdale, said her and her husbands are worried about what closing might do for their business and other businesses in the growing downtown area.

“There are so many unknowns when you do own your own business,” Robinson said. “When will I open back up? Will sales still come in?”

There are nearly 250,000 small businesses in Arkansas alone, with almost 450,000 small businesses employees, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Cares Act, signed by President Trump, provides disaster loan assistance to small businesses with 500 employees or less, according to the Coronavirus website.

Robinson still worries about her business as they are in the process of constructing a new building in Downtown Springdale.

“My husband and I invested in a building on Emma Avenue two years ago,” Robinson said. “We’re in the middle of construction and Covid-19 hits. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about paying my bills.”

Janelle Runyan, a hair stylist at On the Boulevard Salon and Barber in Bentonville, said prior to receiving the mandate to close, business started picking up due to spring break.

“Business was booming,” Runyan said. “This is a very busy time for stylist.”

Runyan said she respects why these mandates have been put in place but that does not make it any easier.

“I understand the reasoning behind taking extra precautions,” Runyan said. “But to be shut down is extremely hard and depressing.”

Other local businesses in the area who are not greatly affected include pharmacies.
Victoria Hennessey, pharmacy manager at McKinney Drug Store, said though their business hasn’t slowed down, they have taken steps to reduce person-to-person contact all while providing medicine to their customers.

“We reviewed changes in best practices for checking patients in and out of the pharmacy,” Hennessey said. “Taking phone-in orders and use of the drive-thru.”

Hennessey said they have started using text alerts that informs patients their prescription is ready to be picked up or it can be delivered for free.

Though business has not been affected, the manufacturers who produce the drugs are often located in China and India, both of which were hit the hardest by COVID-19, Hennessey said.

“Another reason that wholesalers are limiting medication distribution to pharmacies is due to increase in demand,” Hennessey said.

Steps are being taken in order to monitor the supply of medications and the shortages of those that are in high demand, including muscle relaxers and multi-vitamins for adults and pediatrics, according to the U.S. Drug and Food Administration.

Hennessey said patients are being encouraged to call in for an additional 90-day supply of medications out of fear of not being able to get what they need.

“Calling patients ahead allows us to make sure we will have their medication in stock before they run out and to ease their fears and concerns,” Hennessey said.

Peters said they are doing everything they can, but it will take the work of the entire community in order to make it through the pandemic.

“We must trust our government leaders and our health experts who are telling us these actions are the best way to stop the spread,” Peters said. “If we fail to take these aggressive measures now, we may pay a higher price in the long term.”

In Arkansas, there are 837 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to Arkansas Department of Health.

Runyan said she is taking this time to rest and prepare to help her clients even more so when she is able to return to work.

“I have to approach it with grace and gratitude,” Runyan said. “A positive perspective is the only way to get through it.”