ABWEP Responds to COVID-19

At the Office

The Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Program is responsibly implementing guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). In accordance to those guidelines, our office is temporarily closed to the public in an effort to protect our staff and stakeholders from the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Please call the office at (870) 572-9655 if you need assistance.

Staff and pre-approved visitors entering the ABWEP office are required to wear a face-covering and practice CDC social distancing guidelines. Do not enter the ABWEP office if you have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or if you are experiencing any symptoms related to COVID-19 such as:

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Sore throat

  • Congestion or runny nose

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Diarrhea

  • Fever or chills

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • Fatigue

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Headache

Staff are required to take precautionary sanitation measures recommended by the CDC, including frequent hand washing, sanitizing surfaces and limiting interpersonal interactions.

Outside of metal building with door

In the Field

The ABWEP field staff is continuing to service our growers during the ongoing pandemic. As a precaution to ensure the health and safety of our staff and stakeholders, our zone supervisors are required to follow the guidelines below when interacting with growers and conducting field visits. We appreciate the cooperation of our producers in adhering to the following guidelines.

Bales of cotton in field

  1. When meeting with growers, our field staff are required to wear a face-covering.

  2. Growers meeting with our field staff are requested to please wear a face-covering throughout the duration of their meeting and to maintain a distance of at least six feet between themselves and the zone supervisor.

  3. Zone supervisors are conducting producer meetings virtually whenever possible to limit in-person interactions.

  4. ABWEP staff have been provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitize their equipment after each interaction.

  5. Staff who come into contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 or showing symptoms related to COVID-19 are required to quarantine for 14 days.

For More Information

Please consult the CDC’s COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines. If you have questions, please contact the ABWEP office at (870) 572-9655 or send us a message here.