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A tornado tore a path of nearly 20 miles through the city of Jonesboro, Ark., on Saturday evening, severely damaging buildings and injuring at least 22 people, according to local news reports. 

Videos and photos posted to social media show 

 to large swaths of the city, including to a 

 and a local shopping mall. But despite the strength of the tornado, there have been no reports of fatalities and city officials attribute that, and the relatively low number of injuries, in part to the social distancing guidelines and business closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 

"Had we not had that here now, I would say you would have had a lot more people in that mall and we would have had a much worse situation than we have now," Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin told 

Another local official, Jonesboro E-911 Director Jeff Presley 

 the circumstances were a "blessing in disguise."

 whenever possible to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, he 

 the state's non-essential businesses to close or ordered residents to stay at home, an action which 

 in at least 26 states. Perrin, who ordered a 7 p.m. curfew after the tornado, said that people in his city have been taking the pandemic seriously. Jonesboro, located about 130 miles northeast of Little Rock, is home to more than 75,000 people.

Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliott echoed Perrin's sentiments that actions taken to curb the pandemic may have helped the city avoid a larger injury count, but he also urged residents to continue social distancing despite the crisis, specifically saying not to leave their homes in the aftermath of the tornado to survey the damage it wrought.

"Stay in shelter, which you should be doing anyway, and be thankful that it wasn't worse than what we're looking at," Elliott told KAIT 8. The police department also 

 throughout the city to house people affected. 

 in other parts of Arkansas, as well as Iowa and Illinois, according to the National Weather Service. Earlier that day, the Weather Service had warned of 

Though the pandemic closures may have kept people safe by keeping them away from the commercial center where the Jonesboro tornado hit, staying at home may not always be the safest place during a tornado if a home's structure isn't sturdy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

 or inside room without windows, and to seek shelter in a nearby building if you live in a mobile home.   

Disasters

Health

COVID-19

Meg Anderson

Author

The tornado injured at least 22 people and caused extensive damage to many properties. Officials attribute the relatively low number of casualties in part to social distancing and business shutdowns.

Tornado strikes Arkansas city; officials say pandemic closures helped keep people safe

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