Case update: Arkansas COVID-19 cases up by 2,426, deaths increase by 46

The Arkansas Department of Health announced that COVID-19 cases in Arkansas increased by 2,426 on Wednesday.

The state also announced 46 new deaths as a result of the virus, bringing the toll in the state to 4,985 since the pandemic began.

Of the new cases added Wednesday, 154 are from Washington County and 172 come from Benton County.

Hospitalizations were up 15, bringing the total number of Arkansans hospitalized with the virus to 884. There are 142 Arkansans on ventilators, up one from yesterday.

There are currently 16,533 cases of COVID-19 considered active in the state, which includes those that have tested positive by both PCR and antigen testing methods.

The state reported 10,060 new PCR tests on Wednesday, along with 1,813 new antigen tests.

The new cases bring the total cumulative count in Arkansas to 300,430 since the pandemic began.

The state announced it has vaccinated 15,131 Arkansans since last count yesterday, bringing the total number of doses given in the state to 316,484. In addition, a federal program to vaccinate long-term care residents resulted in an additional 422 people vaccinated in the state.

The state began vaccinating the 1-B priority group on Jan. 18, which includes individuals over 70 years of age, and workers in education including higher ed, K-12, and daycare. Local pharmacies, including Collier Drug, Medical Arts Pharmacy, and Heartland Pharmacy in Fayetteville will vaccinate those in the 70 and older group, and some education workers. Others will be vaccinated through mass clinics organized by their employers.

Here are links/info for the waiting lists for pharmacies in NWA for the 1-A and early 1-B group:
» Collier Drug Stores – Email [email protected]
» Medical Arts Pharmacy – Visit this website
» Community Pharmacy – Visit this website
» Heartland Pharmacy – Visit this website

A list of other pharmacies around the state vaccinating right now is available here.

The top counties for new cases announced Wednesday were Pulaski (318), Garland (185), Faulkner (173), Benton (172), Washington (154).

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