[Blitzer:] We're going to get back to the breaking news tonight in just a moment. Three members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force now going into various forms of self-quarantine for 14 days after potentially coming into contact with at least one maybe two officials in the White House who have now tested positive to the Coronavirus, including Dr. Anthony Fauci the Nation's top Infectious Disease Specialist. But right now I want to go to Arkansas, one of the few states that did not implement a formal stay-at-home order. The Governor Asa Hutchinson is joining us now. He has been ordering reopening measures for a week now. He announced yesterday the pools, beaches, water parks will reopen with certain restrictions, all that on May 22nd. On Monday restaurants will reopen with limited capacity. The Governor is joining us right now. Governor thanks so much for joining us. I want to get to your experience what's going on in Arkansas. What's your reaction to the breaking news tonight that these top Coronavirus Experts from Task Force are now in self quarantine for 14 days?
[Gov. Asa Hutchinson , Arkansas:] I was going to be with you Wolf and what we learn from what's happened in the White House is that they should not be considered a surprise. We recognize from day one here in my office that if there was a positive test, we could have to self quarantine. We'll have to take the measures that are necessary to follow CDC guidelines and with the busyness of the White House with the exposure of people they can't be considered surprising. And it's an opportunity for America to see that you can continue to do business and take their proper safety precautions. This is whether you're talking about a meat processing plant or whether you're talking about any business or a school or the White House or the Governor's office this can happen and we can't shut down government, we can't shut down business. And so this is a teaching moment and something I'm sure that White House is planned for because it can't be considered a surprise. I think Doctor Fauci, I trust their judgment. I think they're doing the right thing. And I think that you'll see business to continue whether it's remotely whether it's by video camera or whether it's in person with the right protective measures in place. BLITZER Well, having said that Governor and you know I've known each other for a long time wouldn't it be prudent at least to err on the side of caution and the President meets with members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as he did a couple hours ago in the cabinet room at the White House for all of them just out of an abundance of caution to be wearing a mask and sending that message to the American public? You know it's better to be safe than sorry.
[Hutchinson:] Well, they have to make their judge. I do think it's important and we tried to set an example by my leadership. And if you can't socially distance to wear a mask, the President's emphasizes show social distancing part. But I've made it clear that I'll wear a mask when I'm out in public. I've done that, I've had my photograph. I cross that bridge a long time ago. So I've been on the front page of the paper with a mask on, so you get over it. And it's important for Arkansans to see their leader taking this seriously. And you know the President obviously is taking it seriously. I think that you'll see continued social distancing in the White House and I suspect they'll be a lot more mask wearing going on in the future.
[Blitzer:] Yes, I suspect you're absolutely right. And as I say better to err on the side of caution and send a message to the American people. It's a smart thing to do. You don't take any chances with a contagious virus like this. So let's talk about Arkansas while I have you. What's going on right now? The White House says the benchmark was 14 days of declining cases, polling nationwide shows majority of Americans are still nervous they're afraid of that state's maybe re opening too soon? What are your fellow Arkansans think about the restaurants, the water parks all of them beginning in some form to reopen?
[Hutchinson:] Well, just like anywhere there's a divided opinion. But let me emphasize that we met the criteria for phase one. We had 14 days we've had 14 days of declining cases but also of declining positivity in our cases. We have adequate hospital space. Our hospitalizations have gone down. So we met the criteria for phase one. Now we're trying to get to phase two which you know there's you know I've told very beginning there's going to be ups and downs. There are going to be some spikes. You work through those and right now we've got concern in our prisons. We've had the spread of COVID-19 in both the federal prisoners and the state prison. But you manage through it you emphasize the contact tracing that were becoming more capable. And this month we're going to do 60,000 tests in Arkansas which is 2 percent of our population in one month. And so we're going to open up gradually and do business. Just like you mentioned but we're doing it May 22nd for some of our swimming pools. We're doing our restaurants, all gradually done with restrictions so we can measure and make sure that as we open more we can also keep safe. And I'm proud of Arkansas for their following the social distancing guidelines with a few exceptions but they need to do this. They're embracing it as well as the wearing of masks. And I think we're going the right direction Arkansas but there are going to be some ups and downs in the coming weeks we just got to work through.
[Blitzer:] Yes, you got to be careful but you got to be prudent. You have got a great state. I love Arkansas; I spend a lot of quality time there. Good luck to you Governor. Good luck to all the Arkansans. These are sensitive moments as we all know. Thanks very much for joining us.
[Hutchinson:] Thanks, Wolf. Good to be with you.
[Blitzer:] All right. We're going to get back to the stunning news out of Washington, a possible exposure to the Coronavirus for three of the top officials involved in the fight against the virus much more coming up right here in THE SITUATION ROOM.