The Arkansas Department of Health announced that COVID-19 cases in Arkansas increased by 117 on Monday.
The state also announced 7 new deaths as a result of the virus, bringing the toll in the state to 5,481 since the pandemic began.
Hospitalizations were up by 7, bringing the total number of Arkansans hospitalized in the state to 250. There are 58 patients on ventilators, up 3 from yesterday.
There are currently 2,863 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 353 active cases in Benton County.
“Today’s number of active cases is the lowest in Arkansas since early June,” said governor Asa Hutchinson on Twitter on Monday. “We are making great progress in decreasing our new case numbers, but we must continue to get vaccinated. The best thing each of us can do is get the vaccine when it’s our turn.”
The state reported 2,313 new PCR tests on Monday, along with 138 new antigen tests.
The new cases bring the total cumulative count in Arkansas to 327,060 since the pandemic began.
The top counties for new cases on Monday were Benton (15), Crawford (13), Pulaski (12), Washington (11), and Lonoke (8).
The state announced it has vaccinated 3,155 Arkansans since last count yesterday, bringing the total number of doses given by the state to 768,923. In addition, a federal program to vaccinate long-term care residents and others at retail pharmacies resulted in an additional 1,045 people vaccinated in the state, bringing the total number of Arkansans vaccinated as part of their efforts to 80,060.
According to the NY Times vaccine tracker, Arkansas currently ranks 44th among states in vaccine distribution with 19% of the population receiving at least one shot, and 10% 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
