Marshallese in Arkansas may be past worst of Covid-19

4:52 pm on 27 August 2020

There are hopes in northwest Arkansas in the United States that they have got on top of Covid-19, which has had a disproportionate impact on Marshall Islanders living there.

The Marshall Islands Consul-General in Arkansas, Eldon Alik, during a mask distribution drive

The Marshall Islands Consul-General in Arkansas, Eldon Alik, during a mask distribution drive Photo: RMI Consulate Arkansas

There have been 47 deaths and more than 1,000 infections in a community of little more than 15,000.

The Marshall Islands consul in Springdale, Eldon Alik, said there had not been any deaths in the past two weeks and while there were still 25 active cases, none were in hospital.

He said the message seemed to have finally got through and people were starting to implement precautionary measures like social distancing.

"When you go around the community, all the Marshallese are wearing facemasks and people are just following social distancing guidelines.

"It's too bad it takes 47 deaths for people to listen."

Alik said there was a hope the community had been through the worst but he said they were waiting to see what the impact of opening schools this week was.