The Arkansas Department of Health announced that COVID-19 cases in Arkansas increased by 667 on Wednesday.

The state also announced 26 new deaths as a result of the virus, bringing the toll in the state to 5,313 since the pandemic began.

Hospitalizations were down 36, bringing the total number of Arkansans hospitalized in the state to 602. There are 108 patients on ventilators, down two from yesterday.

There are currently 8,239 cases of COVID-19 considered active in the state, which includes those that have tested positive by both PCR and antigen testing methods. Active cases and hospitalizations have trended downward for the last several weeks.

At the moment, the ADH’s dashboard is showing 497 active cases of COVID-19 in Washington County, with 643 active cases listed in Benton County.

The state reported just 1,152 new PCR tests on Wednesday, along with 929 new antigen tests. The reduce in testing is likely due to the winter storm that has taken over the area the last couple days.

The new cases bring the total cumulative count in Arkansas to 314,192 since the pandemic began.

The top five counties for new cases Wednesday were Garland (100), Benton (90), Washington (86), Sebastian (59), and Pulaski (47).

The state announced it has vaccinated 3,710 Arkansans since last count yesterday, bringing the total number of doses given by the state to 462,141. In addition, a federal program to vaccinate long-term care residents and others at retail pharmacies resulted in an additional 4,418 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 Washington County 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
» Walmart / Sam’s Club Pharmacy –

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

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