Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Arkansas health chief urges masks as lawmakers press limits of emergency authority
Summary
Interim Health Secretary Jose Romero told the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee that masks are a core prevention tool and urged broad adoption, while legal counsel told legislators the governor's emergency orders under Title 12 give the executive power to direct the secretary. Lawmakers pressed for statutory limits and local data.
Interim Arkansas Department of Health Secretary Jose Romero told the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on Monday that wearing face coverings is one of three simple, effective public-health measures—alongside social distancing and hand washing—that reduce spread of COVID-19.
Romero, a pediatric infectious-disease specialist, said masks are part of “a tripartite attack on [the] COVID virus” and cited case reports and population studies showing reduced transmission with mask use. He told…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
