LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Last week, the state-wide mandate for the state of Arkansas took effect on Monday, July 20.
Gov. Hutchinson said the state of Arkansas is committed to starting school the week of August 24th. For students, “it’s important to their emotional health and their education.” He played a clip of several infectious disease experts saying they’re comfortable sending their own children back to school.
The Arkansas Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics (ARAAP) said it "cannot support a statewide return-to-school decision" after a school re-opening guidance was released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Key facts to know:
- 43,810 known positive cases of COVID-19 in Arkansas
- 6,770 active cases
- 464 reported deaths
- 515 hospitalizations
- 106 on ventilators
- 36,576 recoveries
Sunday, August 2
According to the ADH, there have been 637 new COVID-19 cases throughout the state with 6 deaths since yesterday.
Saturday, August 1
3:45 p.m.
The Arkansas Department of Health confirms 662 new positive coronavirus cases in Arkansas, bringing the total to 43,173.
There have been 5 more deaths, bringing the death toll to 458. There are currently 6,679 active cases.
Editor's Note: This article has been edited to reflect the correct death toll number for Aug. 1. The previous one given was a mistake on the Arkansas Department of Health's website.
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Watch Friday's 1:30 p.m. press conference:
Friday, July 31
1:40 p.m.
Dr. Jose Romero provided a breakdown of the cases in the state:
- 752 new cases
- 33 in prisons
- 719 in community
- 6,645 active cases
- 75 in nursing homes
- 329 in prisons
- 6,241 in community
- 507 hospitalizations
- 100 ventilators
- 453 deaths
- 35,413 recoveries
1:30 p.m.
During the press conference, Gov. Hutchinson announced 752 new cases, which brings the known total to 42,511. There were 11 more deaths were announced, bringing the total to 453.
There was a 3-person increase in hospitalizations in the last 24 hours, bringing the total up to 507.
There were 7,207 COVID-19 tests completed in the last 24 hours.
New cases broken down by county:
- Sebastian County - 81
- Pulaski County - 77
- Benton County - 51
- Garland County - 44
- Washington County - 41
- Independence County - 31
- Crittenden County - 29
- Union County - 29
- Mississippi County - 25
- Jefferson County - 23
- Saline County - 21
- Craighead County - 20
Gov. Hutchinson said Arkansas has completed 188,478 COVID-19 tests so far this month. Our goal was 200,000.
The governor announced that Arkansas high school sports will continue as scheduled this fall. He said the state needs school this fall and, part of school, are the sports and activities.
"I have heard from every corner of the state as they've expressed their opinion on this," gov. Hutchinson said. "Based upon that, the AAA (Arkansas Athletics Association) has presented a schedule for football in terms of no contact team drills with helmets. This will take place August 3-7."
The governor is also asking the AAA to submit a plan to have football, volleyball and cheerleading this fall. He is putting together an advisory group to make recommendations to the governor and to work with the Arkansas Department of Health. This will help have a "regular season" this fall.
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Thursday, July 30
1:50 p.m.
Gov. Hutchinson said he will provide an update on sports for the fall, including cheerleading, volleyball, football, during Friday's press conference.
1:40 p.m.
Dr. Jose Romero provided a breakdown of the cases in the state:
- 791 new cases
- 32 in prisons
- 759 in community
- 6,580 active cases
- 77 in nursing homes
- 319 in prisons
- 6,184 in community
- 504 hospitalizations
- 101 ventilators
- 442 deaths
- 34,737 recoveries
Dr. Romero announced that the state previously had directive that all individuals going through elective surgery had to get tested for coronavirus first. Based on retrospective analysis on the number of tests and number of positives, a decision was made to leave the decision up to the physician and facility. It is no longer required by the state, but encouraged.
Watch Thursday's press conference:
1:30 p.m.
During the press conference, Gov. Hutchinson announced 791 new cases, which brings the known total to 41,759. There were 8 more deaths were announced, bringing the total to 442.
There was a 4-person decrease in hospitalizations in the last 24 hours, bringing the total down to 504.
There were 5,598 COVID-19 tests completed in the last 24 hours.
New cases broken down by county:
- Chicot County - 152
- Pulaski County - 73
- Sebastian County - 57
- Benton County - 47
- Garland County - 44
- Washington County - 37
- Independence County - 34
- Jefferson County - 31
- Pope County - 30
- Craighead County - 29
- Mississippi County - 23
- Faulkner County - 21
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Wednesday, July 29
1:40 p.m.
Dr. Jennifer Dillaha provided a breakdown of the cases in the state:
- 787 new cases
- 170 in prisons
- 145 in Chicot County prison
- 617 in community
- 170 in prisons
- 6,590 active cases
- 80 in nursing homes
- 342 in prisons
- 6,174 in community
- 508 hospitalizations
- 108 ventilators
- 434 deaths
- 33,938 recoveries
14-day rolling percent positive by county of residence:
Dr. Dillaha said if a person is in the hospital, they need to be isolation for 20 days. The CDC has looked at studies, and patients are not shown to shed the virus after 10 days, but people who are more sick can shed the virus for a longer time.
Isolation and quarantine is not the same thing:
- Quarantine is when someone has been exposed and they don't know if they'll develop the disease.
- Isolation is when you already have it.
Watch Wednesday's press conference:
1:30 p.m.
During the press conference, Gov. Hutchinson announced 787 new cases, which brings the known total to 40,968. There were 6 more deaths were announced, bringing the total to 434.
There was a 7-person increase in hospitalizations in the last 24 hours, bringing the total up to 508.
There were 4,919 COVID-19 tests completed in the last 24 hours.
New cases broken down by county:
- Chicot County - 152
- Pulaski County - 82
- Sebastian County - 43
- Benton County - 33
- Little River County - 30
- Craighead County - 24
- Mississippi County - 22
- Washington County - 22
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Tuesday, July 28
1:40 p.m.
Dr. Jose Romero provided a breakdown of the cases in the state:
- 734 new cases
- 20 in prisons
- 714 in community
- 6,565 active cases
- 79 in nursing homes
- 225 in prisons
- 6,261 in community
- 501 hospitalizations
- 110 ventilators
- 428 deaths
- 33,188 recoveries
Watch Tuesday's press conference:
1:30 p.m.
During the press conference, Gov. Hutchinson announced 734 new cases, which brings the known total to 40,181. There were 20 more deaths were announced, bringing the total to 428. Dr. Romero clarified that six of the 20 new deaths were not within the last 24 hours.
There was a 12-person increase in hospitalizations in the last 24 hours, bringing the total up to 501.
“These are not good numbers," Gov. Hutchinson said. "This is not good news.”
There were 5,248 COVID-19 tests completed in the last 24 hours.
New cases broken down by county:
- Pulaski County - 55
- Benton County - 50
- Mississippi County - 48
- Washington County - 45
- Sebastian County - 45
- Pope County - 36
- Faulkner County - 34
Arkansas has tested over 170,100 people for COVID-19 for the month of July. This is 6% of the Arkansas population.
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Monday, July 27
1:40 p.m.
Dr. Jose Romero provided a breakdown of the cases in the state:
- 824 new cases
- 10 in prisons
- 814 in community
- 6,674 active cases
- 81 in nursing homes
- 294 in prisons
- 6,299 in community
- 489 hospitalizations
- 110 ventilators
- 408 deaths
- 31,622 recoveries
Secretary Johnny Key with the Arkansas Department of Education said the department will work with providers to make sure the providers offer customer service and tech support, referring to the $10 million Emergency Relief Fund (GEER).
He also said the Department of Education has a survey in the field to access the readiness of each school — more specifically, to see if the schools have their re-entry plan and if they have enough PPE and meet their technology needs. They plan to post results on division website, and it will show the status of each school district.
The Department of Education is going to use $1 Million from the CARES Act to purchase PPE.
Watch Monday's press conference:
1:30 p.m.
During the press conference, Gov. Hutchinson announced a $10 million Emergency Relief Fund (GEER) for WiFi access points for students across Arkansas. This will provide approximately 20,000 devices with up to 24 months of high speed unlimited data.
The Arkansas Department of Health has ordered more testing equipment. The governor said there will be 200 machines that will come with testing kits and supplies. These are antigen testing systems and should start coming in next week. The state is still working on allocation of those machines.
Gov. Hutchinson announced 824 new cases, which brings the known total to 39,447. There were 7 more deaths were announced, bringing the total to 408.
There was a 9-person increase in hospitalizations in the last 24 hours, bringing the total up to 489.
There were 5,929 COVID-19 tests completed in the last 24 hours.
New cases broken down by county:
- Pulaski County - 120
- Washington County - 62
- Craighead County - 46
- Benton County - 45
- Sebastian County - 30
- Jefferson County - 29
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Over the weekend:
