The Arkansas Department of Health announced that COVID-19 cases in Arkansas increased by 2,866 on Friday.
Hospitalizations were down by one, bringing the total number of patients hospitalized in the state to 1,324.
There are currently 348 patients in the state on ventilators, down four from the day previous.
The state also announced 30 new deaths on Friday, bringing the total number of deaths in the state as a result of the pandemic to 6,836.
There are currently 24,228 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 currently lists 2,209 active cases in Washington County and 1,749 in Benton County.
There were 11,693 PCR tests and 3,336 antigen tests announced Friday.
The new cases bring the total cumulative count in Arkansas to 446,430 since the pandemic began.
The top counties for new cases on Friday were Washington (296), Pulaski (276), and Benton (201).
Fayetteville Public Schools are reporting COVID-19 cases in their district as well. The school dashboard on Friday showed 8 new positive cases, for a total of 80 positive cases currently active in the district. There are 222 students currently in quarantine, and 54 of those are quarantining due to probable close contact at school. The district announced one new positive case among staff, for a total of 8 active positive staff cases. Sixteen staff members are currently in quarantine or isolation, according to the district's dashboard.
Arkansas is averaging 2,132 new cases per day, or 71 per 100,000 residents over the last two weeks. The state is currently ranked 42nd among states in the per 100,000 category over that time, according to the New York Times COVID-19 tracker. Cases in the state are actually down by 6% over the last 14 days.
The state announced that 11,179 additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, bringing the total number of doses given by the state to 2,658,885. The state lists 346,346 as partially immunized, and 1,196,560 individuals as fully immunized. The FDA recently announced it had given full approval for the Pfizer vaccine for anyone 16 and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals, officials announced.
All Arkansans ages 12 and older are currently eligible for a vaccine. Those who need assistance locating a vaccine can call 1-800-985-6030.
