Eureka Springs seemed to be doing well with few cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in March, April and May. The governor reopened many businesses, and Memorial Day and subsequent weekends saw business pick up.
People expressed concern about large number of visitors not wearing masks or social distancing. And now, just as the governor has proceeded with Phase II of the opening allowing restaurants to seat a larger capacity, two downtown restaurants – Aquarius Taqueria and Local Flavor Café – have closed after an Aquarius employee who doesn’t live in Eureka Springs tested positive for Covid-19.
Co-owner Britt Evans said an employee came to work at Aquarius with a fever June 5 and was immediately sent home.
“For us, the decision was easy,” Evans said. “The moment we found out we contacted our staff so they could make necessary arrangements for testing. Then we decided to put it on our Facebook pages because we knew that would circulate quickly to let the community know what was going on.”
Evans said that while there were no cases among Local Flavor Café employees, they decided to close because of the increase being seen in Carroll County.
Evans said they are closed until every employee is tested and is negative, at least until June 26 when they will re-evaluate. When the time comes to reopen, they will initially open with curbside pickup only.
Big crowds are expected the July 4 weekend, and Evans said he wants to see if the numbers of Covid-19 cases in Eureka Springs go up as a result.
“We know not everyone is taking this seriously,” Evans said. “The director of the Department of Health said we didn’t have to close at all, but we thought that it was the right thing to do for our employees and our community. Hopefully, other businesses, if this happens, will come forward and have transparency to help us all to stay safe. There is no follow through by the state. I haven’t been reached out to by anyone with guidelines.”
While he has concern for the impact on the income for their 25 employees, their health is more important.
Evans is concerned that many people, including tourists, are not wearing masks or social distancing.
“If you have compassion for others, wear a mask,” Evans said. “I just can’t understand people who are so resistant. I’m concerned because this disease moves swiftly when it gets here. Now we are seeing numbers on the rise. We can look at data across the U.S. and it points in the same direction.”
Co-owner Connie Britt said reopening has been marred by some customers who refuse to wear a mask in the restaurant until served food or drink as required by state law. Some have become angry and verbally abusive. She has also had groups of customers move tables to sit together even after being told state law requires the chairs to be six feet apart.
She said customers should respect the laws in place to protect people from the virus instead of harassing restaurant employees.
There was also concern about a potential Covid-19 case at the Carroll County Correction Facility in Berryville. A report by KNWA/KFTA said Gary Wilson of Eureka Springs said his daughter, Stacy Wilson, had been calling him from the jail because she was not feeling well. According to the report published online, the father called the jail, the mayor and the Arkansas Department of Health trying to get her tested. The report said her father went to pick her up when she was released, but she had already left.
On June 13, KNWA/KFTA reported that the daughter had been found and was going to be tested. A Facebook message to at Gary Willson of Eureka Springs was not returned prior to deadline.
Chief Deputy Major Jerry Williams of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office said all inmates/detainees are given a comprehensive Covid-19 screening upon entry into the detention facility.
“The screening meets/exceeds both the CDC & the Arkansas Department of Health Guidelines,” Williams said. “In conjunction with the Covid-19 screening, each detainee/inmate is provided with a full medical questionnaire. Please note, Ms. Wilson’s Covid-19 screening was negative, and gave no indication (expressed or otherwise) that she had any medical issues while being administered the medical questionnaire. It is my understanding the family is seeking to have Ms. Wilson tested.”
Screening involves asking questions and taking temperatures but does not include taking a Covid-19 test.