Virus cases reach 30,000 in Arkansas, hospitalizations rise to 458
The number of known positive COVID-19 cases in Arkansas passed the 30,000 mark on Wednesday as hospitalizations reached a new high and four more Arkansans died of the virus, said Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
With 564 new cases, the statewide case count is at 30,297. Hospitalizations are up 13 to 458, and the four new deaths bring the overall toll to 335.
Secretary of Health Dr. Nate Smith said 78 of the new cases are from correctional facilities.
The total number of active cases on Wednesday dropped by 119 to 6,439, Smith said. Of those hospitalized, 94 are on ventilators which is an increase of three since Tuesday. Smith said 23,523 people have so far been categorized as having recovered from the illness.
Hutchinson on Tuesday said the six members of the state’s congressional delegation have issued a letter to Vice President Mike Pence calling on the White House to address a nationwide shortage of chemical reagents needed for virus testing.
The governor said delays in commercial lab testing are having an effect in Arkansas that will likely impact the state’s goal of testing 200,000 people in July.
Hutchinson said 5,146 tests had been conducted in the last 24 hours, which puts the state at just under 50,000 tests with only two weeks left before the end of the month.
Charts released Wednesday
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