Benton County commissioners declared a public health emergency Wednesday night, saying it is necessary to support the community during the coronaviurs pandemic.The resolution requires Benton County residents to follow orders from the governor, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and any state guidelines put in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19. It also says the county's emergency operations center will plan, coordinate and implement Benton County's response.

the county will request reimbursement for costs in responding to the emergency. As of Thursday morning, there were no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Benton County.

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