LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — In a press conference on Thursday, Gov. Hutchinson reported 2,843 new positive COVID-19 cases in Arkansas, which is the highest number recorded since January 2021.
With hospitalizations due to the virus increasing across the state and hospital capacity running low, Hutchinson announced a public health emergency effective for the next 60 days due to the surge seen from the delta variant.
Hutchinson also reported that 96.39% of positive cases were unvaccinated, 95.35% hospitalized are unvaccinated and 97.4% deaths were unvaccinated from the virus.
The public health declaration is in effect today and the state legislature needs to review the declaration and has the power to reverse it if they choose.
The legislature needs to review it and can reverse it if they choose to.
Hutchinson also mentioned that at the time of the press conference, four patients were waiting in ambulances so they can find a hospital to be admitted to.
Key facts to know:
- New cases: 388,436 (+1,984)
- Total deaths: 6,157 (+16)
- Currently hospitalized: 1,139 (+34)
- Fully immunized: 1,061,721 (+1,940)
UAMS and Arkansas Children's Hospital recently surpassed the record of COVID-19 patients that both set in January.
"This is trending all in the wrong direction," CEO of UAMS Dr. Cam Patterson said. "Especially as we are thinking about opening schools in the coming weeks."
We will update the article with more information as it becomes available. AP has contributed to this article.
