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At a low again, everyone and thanks for joining us the latest on Arkansas and the Omicron variant a bit later in the broadcast.

First, the political landscape, almost a quarter of the Senate 35 seats will be up for grabs this year.

How that could affect our politics in the near term and some other political musings now from three guys you've seen here before.

Michael Cook, then, whom there is no blure.

Bill Vickery rumored to be Crimson to the core, and Andrew de Millo, Whoas Capital Bureau, chief of The Associated Press.

Is professionally colorless.

If Hartley Bland gentlemen thanks for coming aboard, let's start with the Arkansas Senate.

Bill Vickery.

I mean, there's a lot going on there.

We would.

I think 8 maybe nine seats in play.

Yeah, you're exactly correct.

I mean to see an open state Senate seat is like a Bigfoot sighting.

That's very rare.

You don't know if it actually is going to happen.

You gotta confirm that.

You see both Democrats and Republicans alike choosing to step aside.

Some are term limited like Senator Bledsoe, others as we've seen from Senator Garner or Senator Ingram have decided that they want to pursue other issues in life and so it is very rare this is and I think I might be right in saying that minus term limits we're in a really rare position where we may see the most turnover in the state Senate that we've seen in my lifetime.

Of and and maybe the last 60 or 70 years.

Yeah, certainly.

Under these circumstances Michael Cook, yeah.

It'll be a big turnover.

As you mentioned, all 35 seats are going to be open because of redistricting, right?

Plus, the number of people who are are leaving because of, like you mentioned, term limits on the democratic side, we're losing 3 great people due to term limits or choosing not to run again.

The Minority Leader, Senator Keith Ingram, State Senator Larry Teague and state Senator Joyce Elliott between the three of those elected officials.

The decades and decades of experience and institutional knowledge of getting things done there at the state Capitol.

Unfortunately, is going to be lost, which I think is a sad for all Arkansans because those three people really worked hard and did all they could to better the lives of all our candidates.

Yeah, and one of the interesting things to about this, Andrew Demillo, is that two of it at least.

Well, all three of those Democrats that Michael Cook just mentioned were fairly adept at crossing the aisle there in and working with with the Republican lawmakers.

Yeah, that's that's true.

You know this.

These exits really have the potential for just dramatically changing the dynamics in the Senate, especially for Democrats.

You know, Democrats don't don't really have the numbers in the legislature right now, and the way things are going there.

And they're they're not going to.

But what they did have is they did have some members like Senator Ingram like Senator Elliot who had some institutional knowledge.

Who knew the process and knew the history around the way the Senate had worked?

The way around the state budget, you know, Senator Tiegs and another example, and they're going to be losing that, and that's it's going to be interesting to see.

How do Democrats maneuver now without those voices?

And without that experience, interesting?

Also in to what extent the temperature or the ideological temperature of the Senate is likely to change bill?

Yeah, I mean, I actually think I'm a very optimistic.

I think you're going to see the Senate work very well together.

Going forward, you know we do.

You always do lament losing people who have served with honor and distinction.

I think we've mentioned some folks who have fallen the deep side of the aisle that have served very honorably and with with great distinction.

I might disagree with their political philosophy, but their intent and their desire to help Arkansas was never questioned.

We're losing some on the Republican side as well too, but I tend to think.

You're seeing the Senate as an institution.

While there's going to be a big turnover, I think there's there's a developing cohesiveness inside the Senate that will probably serve the state well in the 23 legislative session and on the 25 I'm I'm bullish.

I'm optimistic on this Senate.

Being able to work well together.

Cohesion in what sense?

Follow up on that bill because I had some members telling me it's it's treacherous on the Senate floor.

It yeah, but that is as a result today, but we're talking about projecting ahead with some new members, and when you have that big a turnover when you've got almost a third of the Senate changing changing hands, there's it's.

There's naturally sort of a ghost slow approach for a lot of these folks, and and I just think at the end of the day, what you're going to see is some House members become state senators, and you do see at the from a leadership standpoint, I think you see the Republican leaders, at least.

Wanting to engage and work with Democrats and wanting to be sort of a get things done coalition moving forward, I again I I do think it's it's not cohesion.

Steve in the sense of being told what to do, but sort of a real sense of working together.

Yeah, Michael cook.

I I don't quite see that happening.

You know the Senate is losing, you know two blustery politicians with Jason Rapert and Trent Garner opting not to run for reelection.

Those two gentlemen have a long history of just blustering and bullying in the state Senate.

However, I think you know it's a new day for a new way of doing for Republican politics both in Arkansas and in in general.

I think in the upcoming session, we'll see more of these kind of culture war issues that have come to.

Come to bear the leadership maybe one way, but then I think a lot of the rank and file Republicans will be on another I I don't see much more cohesion and and working together, at least on the Republican side.

As we all know those, they're different factions that people who like to all sniper each other behind the scenes and there's the hot upcoming president Protem race with three state senators vying for that seat.

Republican state senators vying for that, so I I just don't see much more.

Cohesion and cooperation coming from the state Senate.

Yeah, well speaking a three man race is Andrew Demillo.

There's another one underway.

Senate race up in Northwest Arkansas, where Mr Ballinger now hit.

If I at last report 2 opponents in the in the primary I mean.

Yeah, that's yeah, that's that's correct.

And you know this, you know this, this could end up being a pretty interesting race.

You know?

Senator Ballenger has been, you know, one of those figures that's been willing to take on a governor Hutchinson on some issues has been very outspoken on things like opposition to vaccine mandates and other safety measures that have been taken because of the pandemic.

And, you know, he's also been very outspoken on social issues and all these cultural wars issues that we've talked about before.

I guess the big question will be in that district you know, is that district still embracing that, or is there you know, are they open to some some moderation on that?

Is there any kind of low back and we could, you know, get a better sense of that from from this primary well also bill victory back to you.

We just concluded a Republican senatorial primary Rep there to to replace succeed Mr. EADS, and it appears that the two leading candidates anyway were pretty much what used to be called Main St Republicans.

The hot button cultural issues didn't really enter into that race, at least in the run off.

Yeah, and I think it also helps both of those guys were very well known entrenched.

They've been in the community for a very long time and that's why I say, you know, people tend to vote for people, and I believe that's really what one out there is.

You've got some folks who really have been in that community for some time and were well known and well established.

And that carries the day, I think more than negative campaigning against a figure like that, but I wanna go back if I can't Steve real quickly about what Steve, what Andrew was saying about the culture war issue, I mean.

To some degree you know there is a fissure inside the Republican Party nationally and you see you seen it playing out here where the more populist Trump wing of the party versus the old sort of Reagan sense of conservatism limited government battling it out a little bit.

And those culture war issues are the ones with which you see it manifested.

And it will be interesting to see the campaigns that are run and the style of campaigns and what people are.

The issues are because the one thing I know is us opinion.

Leaders in Little Rock get it wrong more often than we get it right when we try to project ahead or what's a senator.

Ballingers District will do.

Well, I never thought I would see and and some other people concur.

See a time when Republican members of the General Assembly, including the Senate, would tell basically tell the Artcile State chamber to go take a hike and Walmart to get off my phone.

Yeah it well, but there again, that's a that takes away that when Senator Trent Garner resigning, taking potshots at Governor ASA Hutchinson, I can't think of a of a previous time where a retiring state senator, just out and attacked the governor of his own party.

I've never seen anything like that, so that's.

Yeah, let's go to the incumbent for just a second.

We've got.

We had budget hearings are now underway.

The administration unveiled its budget about a $6 billion spending plan.

This is likely to be Mr Hutchinson last session absent a special session.

Bill Vickery.

I think he's looking to wrap up a lot of issues.

He wants to tie some stuff up in bows.

He's had an incredibly successful eight year run as governor.

You look at where we are, the things he wanted to accomplish.

He accomplished in in, especially in terms of taxes, business recruitment, where the state stands now in terms of our posture toward the business community in a time of upheaval, Arkansas, along with a few other states, is finally that sort of beacon that a business can cling to.

And I think you're gonna see a lot of the work that he's done in the successes he's had pay off over the next two decades.

Andrew de Miller.

Do you have a sense of the session to come?

Not not yet other than you know, the governor's budget proposal.

There are very few surprises in it.

You know about 3.3% increase in spending.

The big unknown is going to be.

Can they keep it limited?

You know.

Traditionally, fiscal sessions have been focused on that, focused on the budget.

But as we saw with special session, there may be an appetite among some Republicans to try to expand that with a 2/3 vote they could take.

They could take up other other issues so we could see another push for these.

You know the culture, war areas, you know the critical race theory, abortion, and you know fights over.

You know fights over vaccines again, so there may be more opportunities for doing that than we saw during the special session.

So that's really the big unknown.

We will continue to watch it and you guys will be back, massage, cook Vickery and Demello.

Thanks.

See you.

Next time we'll be right back.

And now to COVID.

There seems no stopping at this new variant.

A wildfire that is stressing the Arkansas health care system at a near unprecedented rate.

The state is anticipating 10s of thousands of home COVID test kits about which we will now try to provide some guidance.

We're joined by Doctor Naveen Patil, medical director of the Infectious Disease Bureau.

At the state Health Department and Doctor Joe Thompson, the CEO of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, you will notice that we are all now wearing masks because Doctor Thompson is in the studio, unlike our guests in the previous segment and Doctor Pathil is not alone in his studio at the at the Medical Center, so we'll.

That's a bit of explanatory journalism there.

Here's some more.

Doctor Patel will start with you.

We are hundreds of millions really of tests are soon going to be available.

We hope, but there are two kinds.

What what's the basic difference here?

What do we need to know about that?

So the test gets that procured by our cancer.

We're supposed to get a million and a half, and I think we received about quarter million tests this past week, which has all been taken up by our citizens.

So the tests that are being supplied are the rapid antigen tests.

So basically we have two types of COVID tests.

One is the molecular test, also known as PCR or NAAT, and the antigen test.

So the PCR.

Guests are very sensitive, you know, it detects viral genetic material, which is the RNA in the test.

So it can be very very sensitive.

It is also very specific for COVID so and usually most of the PCR tests except for a one or two take longer time for results to come back.

Usually it's 6 to 8 hours, but with the lab waiting period it can be 24 to 48 hours.

So they are very very sensitive and specific but can take longer.

Rapid tests, which are mostly the antigen test in or detect proteins on the surface of the virus.

They are very fast to do, usually 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes depending on the type of test, they are not all that sensitive, but they are specific to COVID.

So when I mean sensitive means it can miss some of the cases.

So that's the difference.

But the utility is you can do it at home, in doctor's office and it's pretty rapid.

You know 15 to 30 minutes, so those are the two main types of tests we're going to get a demonstration here in just a second.

I'll pause for some figures it for the benefit of our audience.

We're taping our broadcast at mid morning on Friday with some very uncomfortable unpleasant records.

Having just been set 13,000 new cases diagnosed in Arkansas only yesterday, which takes us to about 80,000 active cases, we're now in less than two years, 9 almost 9400 deaths.

In the public prints this morning, Doctor Joe Trump said this goes to the matter of testing or to both doctors.

Hospitals, particularly in vaccine resistant states, including Arkansas, almost at the snapping point, you know, Steve at 13,000 number is a dramatic undercount that really is mostly the PCR test.

It does not count most of the home tests that people have that we put out into the Community, so this really is an exponential increase.

This Omicron variant is 3 to four times more infectious than the Delta variant, and it was twice as infectious as the parent variant, so it really is raging.

In control throughout our communities and there is the a certain fatalism sets in.

People have heard well it is milder than the delta variant.

It does not appear to cause the lower respiratory pneumonias as often and therefore people don't need to be placed on ventilators with the long term sequelae from those.

However, for individuals that are not vaccinated or those that got their vaccines last year and have not been boosted, it does represent a significant clinical risk and we do have people, particularly those with comorbidities, that are having a hard time with this variant.

Doctor Patel.

How do we get a test?

Is this reimbursables from that standpoint?

So these tests are that is being distributed by the state, are available in all the local health units that are present in every county of the state and also the local library.

So we had ordered 1.5 million.

So we have received about a quarter million.

We are supposed to be receiving them every few days so as they come they will be distributed and the public will be informed.

The list of facilities are on the ADH website and I also think it's on the governor's website.

So these tests are provided for.

Free to you.

So every person can get one packet which has two tests and a family can get up to three packets, which is 6 tests.

These are not reimbursable because these are provided for free, but recently there were guidelines set forth by the Biden administration where insurance companies.

If you are insured, the insurance companies will provide for eight tests a month for each insured person to be reimbursed so.

Basically this is apart from any other test that's performed in a hospital or a clinic or other things.

So if you need 12 tests, four or five are performed in a doctors office or hospital.

You can still get eight over the counter at home tests from each insured person, and it all depends on how your insurance company is contracted with the pharmacy.

Either the pharmacy will dispense it for free to you or, or you may have to pay it and then submit for a claim to the insurance company, usually the.

Reimbursement is about $12.00 per test, so if you're taking a test to month, you might get up to $96 from the insurance company and I would direct the audience's attention to the bar across the bottom of our screen with the health department.

Well, Arkansas Health Department website, where all sorts of additional information can be obtained about the test.

About COVID and what what else we need to know on a very updated base.

Very daily, hourly, even basis.

How often Doctor Thompson should we test?

Well, I think testing is based upon whether you are symptomatic and you want to know.

Or whether you have been exposed and you want to safeguard yourself and the rest of your family.

Doctor Patel mentioned the sensitivity and specificity the PCR test is very, very accurate.

It just takes a couple of days to get back now because the lines that you see people waiting in and the laboratory time the the rapid test.

If it's positive you're positive, that's the the specificity.

But if it's negative and you're symptomatic, it could be a false negative.

So if you are symptomatic today with the spread of this omicron, I think you assume you have Omicron.

In safeguard your family if possible.

What if it does come back positive?

What, what then what?

So the CDC guidelines now have changed because of the infectiousness of this virus.

If it comes back positive, you should enter into a 10 day period, minimum 10 day period where you are trying to isolate yourself and not affect others.

Now five days required isolation.

If you're an essential worker and must get out our health care workers or frontline first responders and others, you can come out of that isolation.

If you commit to wearing a mask.

While you're out and about for out the next 5 days.

If the symptoms worsen, I mean what is it to your GP to the ER?

What do we need to do well and and let me just caveat that coming out in five days assumes your symptoms have abated, that you don't have fever.

If you continue to have significant symptoms.

If you have any fever for in the 24 hour period, you should not come out of isolation and some people are having to go a longer period of time than the five days, but if your symptoms are worsening, I think the important thing is to call so that you quickly get to the place that you need to be.

If you have a primary care provider.

Make that phone call if you don't have a primary care provider.

Most hospitals now have a hotline for COVID responses that you can call and seek guidance on where to get care.

OK about the test now?

So participatory journalism here.

Doctors let me just apologize.

If you want a test, don't go to the emergency room.

We do not want people going to the emergency room for tests, jamming it up, jamming it up.

Our emergency rooms are are really overwhelmed right now with sick people, and if you need a test, that's why the health department others are making these distribution sites at libraries.

The health units, other places across the state.

Yours truly now is going to unmask for some demonstration here, and our two doctors are going to walk me through this.

Alright, here's the kit, which I think the cover.

You have already seen now Doctor Thompson, what do I need to do?

OK, the 1st and most important thing is you pull out the instructions.

All right.

You pull out the instructions and you read the instructions.

Are you and I have already done that.

But before people start taking the test, make sure you understand the instructions.

There are three components that you're going to need.

You're going to need a swab.

And you're gonna need one of these vials, right?

And you're gonna need your test kit.

So with the swab you'll take the swab out and I would get all three of the things close to you, so you're not having to reach and drop and maneuver too much, right?

So you got the swab, get your vial vial and I would keep hold of the swab so you don't contaminate it with anything.

There you go and then your test kit.

The test kit, a test kit there, right?

Alright, so you're going to take don't undo it yet.

Alright, alright, you're gonna oh, we swap you swab first, you're gonna stick that about 3/4 of an inch up into your nostril first on one side and you're going to swirl it around five times and then on the other side.

And you're going to swirl it around five times.

There's no elegant way to do this.

No, there's not.

And you gotta go little farther.

This is not as difficult as the PCR, but you want to get a good specimen so that you know it.

Now the other, now the other side.

This is not that bad, it's not, it's it's.

It is doable.

I don't want to do it every moment, but just hold on to your swab and you want to untwist, not the white part, but the orange part on the others.

There you go.

Now you want to put the swab down into the vial and you're going to swirl it 15 times.

This is to transfer your material into the vial to be able to put it in there so 15 times.

Swirling it around 11:12.

15 Right now you can take the swab out and discard the swab.

You're not going to use it anymore.

So toss it, put the top back on.

Swirl it, there you go.

Make it tight now then I shake it just a little bit to to.

And you can squeeze the side a little bit just to make sure that your stuff is all done in.

Now you're going to at the top of what is in your hand.

The small white piece that will untwist now and come off so you take that small white piece and you untwist it.

The guys get a better shot of this right now.

This is a dropper, so this is now the dropper and you're going to take your test kit and on the test kit there is a place that says put three drops here.

I would put it down flat on the surface.

Let's try and you're here.

You're gonna put three drops in that location that says three drops here.

1.

2.

Three in that starts a 15 minute time.

I think you should look at your watch.

Look at a clock, see what time it is alright.

What happens is that liquid moves across this test strip.

Over the next 15 minutes.

Sorry in the test strip is going to give US 2 results.

If the test is a successful test, meaning the test worked correctly, you will see a line that appears underneath the.

See that you see now on the screen.

OK, if you see a line.

And you need to make sure there is a line under the sea so that you know that the test worked correctly.

If you see a line under the T, the test line, that means that you are positive for the antigens of COVID-19 and that you likely have COVID-19 under the T under the T. OK, so if you have two lines AC&AT.

You go into isolation OK and again tributyl did we get that correct, yeah.

Yes, I think that's right.

And again, if you have to have two lines for it to be positive.

If there are no lines or the C line doesn't show up and only the T line shows up, that's a invalid test.

So for a positive test.

You have to have both the C&T lines tool, 2 lines just like a pregnancy test, and if it is negative only the C line will light up and the instructions are pretty clear in the box.

And also we need to make sure that you correct you test at the correct and accurate time.

I would like to give an example if you may say for example Doctor Thompson and Steve you are in the studio and.

Rare chance one of you is positive and one so the other person has been exposed now so you don't go home and test immediately because you just been exposed in the last 1015 minutes.

Your test is not going to be positive within within that you wait for a couple of days so you've been exposed today you come to know coworker is positive and the only time you had exposure to him was this morning or this afternoon.

You don't go back home if you've been exposed for the last 2-3 days continuously and that's a different matter.

But only one time exposure you go home, wait for 2-3 days to do your test.

Unless you become symptomatic with Omicron, we are having people become symptomatic within one or two days in many instances after exposure.

But if you're not symptomatic, you can wait up to two or three days to do your first Test, and you have two test kits.

So if it is negative, the first time, you can repeat the test after another couple of days on day five after exposure.

And if you are negative, most likely.

You are negative and and maybe you you were protected by your vaccine or by your mask or whatever.

Well, I have to thank our two daughters for simply out of time to the audience.

I would, but it tickled.

It didn't hurt and it's essential doctor particularly, and Doctor Thompson.

Thank you so much for coming in.

Thank you.

The results next week.

See you then.

Support for Arkansas Week provided by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

The Arkansas Times and CRF M89.