LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Last week, Governor Asa Hutchinson and other officials faced questions about the intent to return to in-person schooling despite the amount of daily reported cases remains high following the mask mandate.
On Sunday, the state reported 572 positive cases and 6,770 total tested over a 24-hour period. This is the first time since July 21 that amount of positive cases reported in a single day was under 600 total.
Key facts to know:
- 52,665 known positive cases of COVID-19 in Arkansas
- 6,494 active cases
- 599 reported deaths (a false death was reported on Saturday, bringing the total from 600 to 599)
- 478 hospitalizations
- 120 on ventilators
- 45,572 recoveries
Watch Friday's 1:30 p.m. press conference here:
Sunday, August 16
3:50 p.m.
The Arkansas Department of Health has confirmed a total of 673 new COVID-19 cases in the state. Yesterday, 14 deaths were announced, but one was a false report.
The total deaths in the state are now 599 instead of 600 with no new deaths today.
Saturday, August 15
3:30 p.m.
Gov. Hutchinson tweeted out that there are 851 new coronavirus cases in the state and 14 more deaths.
A health department official said the reason for the total cases dropping from 52,392 to 51,992 was because the state removed cases "that were found to be out-of-state residents or duplicates."
"We have also corrected an issues that affected testing data from one private lab and added records that had been missing," the official said.
Friday, August 14
4:00 p.m.
Below are the daily statewide hospitalization numbers as reported to us by hospitals and as of 2 p.m.:
- Current hospitalizations: 466
- Total Beds: 9,111
- Total Beds Available: 2,694
- Total ICU Beds: 1,011
- Total ICU Beds Available: 175
- Total Vents: 1,048
- Total Vents Available: 705
- Total Covid patients in ICU: 234
- Total Covid patients on vents: 113
1:40 p.m.
The governor announced he is issuing a directive to public and private schools, giving guidelines for large outdoor/indoor venues for team sports. Facilities cannot go over 66 percent capacity and masks must be worn. Social distancing must also happen between family groups.
He also said they will be publishing more specific guidance for band and music "teams.' That guidance will be available online later today.
Dr. Jose Romero provided a breakdown of coronavirus cases in the state.
- 626 new cases
- 189 in prison, 437 in community
- 113 total on ventilators
- 44,602 recoveries (up 786)
- 6,359 active cases
- 62 in nursing, 778 in prisons, 5,519 in community
- 5,519 tests over last 24 hours
There have been 67,416 tests completed so far this month.
1:30 p.m.
Gov. Hutchinson announced an executive order. He is extending the public health emergency for another 60 days. The reason is simple because we remain in an emergency.
There were 626 new coronavirus cases in Arkansas over the last 24 hours.
Hospitalizations were down seven and there were five more deaths.
A total of 6,359 people were tested over the last 24 hours.
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Thursday, August 13
4:30 p.m.
Below are the daily statewide hospitalization numbers as reported to us by hospitals and as of 2 p.m.:
- Current Hospitalizations: 473
- Total Beds: 9,111
- Total Bed Availability: 2,595
- Total ICU Beds: 1,011
- Total ICU Beds Availability: 161
- Total Vents: 1,048
- Total Vents Available: 703
- Total Covid patients in ICU: 237
- Total Covid patients on vents: 112
1:40 p.m.
Dr. Jose Romero provided a breakdown of coronavirus cases in the state.
- 652 new cases
- 13 in prison, 639 in community
- 112 total on ventilators
- 44,602 recoveries (up 786)
- 6,582 active cases
- 71 in nursing, 735 in prisons, 5,776 in community
- 5,192 tests over last 24 hours
There have been 67,416 tests completed so far this month.
Gov. Hutchinson announced the Arkansas Ready to Learn School Guide will be released today. These documents are not to guide whether a school will reopen. This is guidance for the community so they can know the state is doing it in the healthiest way possible.
1:30 p.m.
Gov. Hutchinson announced 652 new coronavirus cases in Arkansas over the last 24 hours.
Hospitalizations were down 13 and there were nine more deaths.Two of those were late reports from last month — one was from a nursing home, the other from a prison.
A total of 5,192 people were tested over the last 24 hours.
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Wednesday, August 12
2:15 p.m.
Below are today’s statewide hospitalization numbers as reported by hospitals and as of 2 p.m. today:
- Current Hospitalizations: 486
- Total Beds: 9,111
- Total Beds Available: 2,508
- Total ICU Beds: 1,011
- Total ICU Beds Available: 150
- Total Vents: 1,054
- Total Vents Available: 708
- Total COVID patients in ICU: 235
- Total COVID patients on vents: 113
1:40 p.m.
Gov. Hutchinson announced he is signing a letter of intent with the Rockefeller Foundation and other states to work as a consortium of states. This will enhance buying power and access within commercial labs and help increase the marketplace.
Dr. Jose Romero provided a breakdown of coronavirus cases in the state.
- 703 new cases
- 24 in prison, 679 in community
- 113 total on ventilators
- 43,816 recoveries (up 818)
- 6,725 active cases
- 69 in nursing, 741 in prisons, 5,915 in community
- 4,401 tests over last 24 hours
1:30 p.m.
Gov. Hutchinson announced 703 new coronavirus cases in Arkansas over the last 24 hours.
Hospitalizations were down 21 and there were seven more deaths.
A total of 4,401 people were tested over the last 24 hours.
Hutchinson said that the top counties with new cases were Pulaski with 78, Logan with 47, Sebastian with 43, Garland with 42, Jefferson with 33 and Pope with 30.
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Tuesday, August 11
6:20 p.m.
Below are the statewide hospitalizations numbers (as of 2 p.m.):
- Current hospitalizations: 507
- Total Beds: 9,111
- Total Beds Available: 2,585
- Total ICU Beds: 1,011
- Total ICU Beds Available: 141
- Total Vents: 1,054
- Total Vents Available: 713
- Total COVID patients in ICU: 234
- Total COVID patients on vents: 118
1:50 p.m.
Secretary of Education Johnny Key announced during Tuesday's press briefing that the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) will provide support for the Department of Education in terms of reporting COVID-19 data.
ACHI will provide district level data to include a weekly update of positive cases in the school systems. Officials will have a map, active cases and positivity rate.
1:40 p.m.
Dr. Jose Romero provided a breakdown of coronavirus cases in the state.
- 383 new cases
- 69 in prison, 313 in community
- 116 total on ventilators
- 42,998 recoveries (up 868)
- 6,847 active cases
- 60 in nursing, 817 in prisons, 5,970 in community
- 4,140 tests over last 24 hours
1:30 p.m.
Gov. Hutchinson announced 383 new coronavirus cases in Arkansas over the last 24 hours.
Hospitalizations were down one and there were 11 more deaths.
A total of 4,140 people were tested over the last 24 hours.
Monday, August 10
3:00 p.m.
Below are the statewide hospitalizations numbers as of 2 p.m.:
- Current Hospitalizations: 508
- Total Beds: 9,111
- Total Beds Available: 2,754
- Total ICU Beds: 1,011
- Total ICU Beds Available: 154
- Total Vents: 1,054
- Total Vents Available: 740
- Total Covid patients in ICU: 232
- Total Covid patients on vents: 117
1:45 p.m.
Dr. Jose Romero provided a breakdown of coronavirus cases in the state.
- 645 new cases
- 13 in prison, 632 in community
- 117 total on ventilators
- 42,139 recoveries (up 678)
- 7,343 active cases
- 5,341 tests over last 24 hours
1:30 p.m.
Gov. Hutchinson announced 645 new coronavirus cases and that hospitalizations are down 6 and there are 11 more deaths.
A total of 5,341 people were tested over the last 24 hours.
Arkansas has a known total of 50,028 COVID-19 cases.
Hutchinson said that the top three counties with new cases were Pulaski with 61, Sebastian with 52 and Garland with 50.
9:00 a.m.
Over the weekend, Governor Asa Hutchinson reported 1,344 new coronavirus cases in the state.
Arkansas also saw 23 more deaths reported. A total of 41,452 people have recovered from the virus and 544 people have died due to COVID-19.
Below are the statewide hospitalization numbers as of Sunday, August 10:
- Current hospitalizations: 514
- Total Beds: 9,111
- Total Beds Available: 2,848
- Total ICU Beds: 1,011
- Total ICU Beds Available: 158
- Total Vents: 1,054
- Total Vents Available: 726
- Total Covid patients in ICU: 241
- Total Covid patients on vents: 115
We will continue to update this article with new information as it becomes available.