VISIT HOT SPRINGS
134 Convention Boulevard • Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas 71901
1-800-922-6478 • 501-321-2027 • FAX 501-620-5008
www.hotsprings.org
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NEWS RELEASE
THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Paul Johnson 501/231-3817
pj72205@comcast.net
City of Hot Springs Shouldn’t Be Confused With Neighboring County in COVID-19 Statistics, Officials Point Out
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — Some confusion exists in the public’s mind regarding statistics concerning the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic when it comes to the City of Hot Springs and its neighboring county, which is named Hot Spring County (no “s”), Hot Springs officials pointed out Thursday. Hot Springs is in Garland County.
“We keep hearing from people who say they have heard that our city has more current coronavirus cases then it actually does,” said Garland County Judge Darryl Mahoney. “They hear, especially on broadcast media, that ‘Hot Spring County’ has a certain number of cases and assume that those figures apply to the City of Hot Springs.
“Actually, the latest numbers from health professionals list only 30 active COVID-19 cases in Garland County, and a much larger number in our neighboring county, which has Malvern as its county seat. That county’s virus numbers are affected by the fact that there is a correctional facility in the county.
“Arkansas’s county names and the names of its cities can be quite confusing at times. For instance, Searcy is not in Searcy County; Benton is not in Benton County; Van Buren is not in Van Buren County; Conway is not in Conway County; Hot Springs is not in Hot Spring County — no ‘s’.”
Mahoney was joined by Hot Springs City Manager Bill Burrough [cq] and Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison in expressing concern that potential visitors to the city might mistakenly believe that there are more virus cases in Hot Springs than there actually are.
“We have a great relationship with our neighboring county, but we hope everyone understands that we live in Garland County,” Arrison said.
For more information call Steve Arrison, 501-321-2027.