The Arkansas Department of Health announced that COVID-19 cases in Arkansas increased by 459 on Friday.

The state also announced 27 new deaths as a result of the virus, bringing the toll in the state to 5,437 since the pandemic began.

Hospitalizations were down by 19, bringing the total number of Arkansans hospitalized in the state to 259. There are 64 patients on ventilators, down 3 from yesterday.

There are currently 3,158 cases of COVID-19 considered active in the state, which includes those that have tested positive by both PCR and antigen testing methods. The ADH dashboard is showing 294 active cases in Washington County, and 357 active cases in Benton County.

The state reported 6,105 new PCR tests on Friday, along with 1,030 new antigen tests.

The new cases bring the total cumulative count in Arkansas to 326,499 since the pandemic began.

The top counties for new cases on Friday were Pulaski (59), Benton (52), Garland (36), Faulkner (33), and Washington (32).

The state announced it has vaccinated 18,815 Arkansans since last count yesterday, bringing the total number of doses given by the state to 743,791. In addition, a federal program to vaccinate long-term care residents and others at retail pharmacies resulted in an additional 7,788 people vaccinated in the state, bringing the total number of Arkansans vaccinated as part of their efforts to 72,606.

According to the NY Times vaccine tracker, Arkansas currently ranks 46th among states in vaccine distribution with 18% of the population receiving at least one shot, and 9.8% considered fully vaccinated.

The state began vaccinating the 1-B priority group on Jan. 18. The groups eligible to receive vaccines includes individuals over 65 years of age, workers in food manufacturing, and workers in education including higher ed, K-12, and daycare. Governor Asa Hutchinson this week added essential workers in food and agriculture, grocery stores, meal delivery, postal service, public transit, government workers, houses of worship, along with those with developmental disabilities as new groups now eligible for the vaccine.

Local pharmacies, including Collier Drug, Medical Arts Pharmacy, and Heartland Pharmacy in Fayetteville will vaccinate those in the 65 and older group, and some education workers. Others will be vaccinated through mass clinics organized by their employers.

Vaccination clinics are also taking place around the region, including at Washington Regional, Northwest Health, and Mercy in Springdale.

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 – Visit this website
» Medical Arts Pharmacy – Visit this website
» Community Pharmacy – Visit this website
» Heartland Pharmacy – Visit this website
» Walmart – Visit this website
» Sam’s Club – Visit this website Pharmacy

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

Case report

Vaccine update