The number of known positive COVID-19 cases in Arkansas reached 51,114 Wednesday, which is an increase of 703 since Tuesday.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced the numbers during his coronavirus press briefing, which was held Wednesday at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

“If you look at that 703, obviously that’s an increase from yesterday, but it’s a reduction from the previous days, said Hutchinson. “It shows that we continue to be flat, but we’re not where we need to be as a state.”

The increase is actually higher than each of the three previous days, but overall, the state is off to a better start than last week in terms of new cases reported. There have been 1,731 new cases added this week, which is 752 less than the previous week when 2,483 cases were added from Monday through Wednesday.

The top counties with new cases include Pulaski (78), Logan (47), Sebastian (43), Garland (42), Jefferson (33) and Pope (30). The governor said Washington, Craighead, Mississippi, Crawford and Crittenden counties each had between 20-30 new cases.

Hutchinson said 4,401 tests had been conducted in the past 24 hours.

Of the new cases announced Wednesday, 24 are from correctional facilities and 679 are from the general community.

Hospitalizations are down 21 to 486, and patients on a ventilator are down three to 113.

There were seven new deaths, bringing the statewide toll to 573.

As of Wednesday, there are 6,725 active cases and 43,816 recoveries.

» See all updates from previous days

Slides