The Arkansas Department of Health announced that COVID-19 cases in Arkansas increased by 217 on Monday.
The state also announced 12 new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths in the state as a result of the pandemic to 8,132.
Hospitalizations were down by three, bringing the total number of patients hospitalized in the state to 545.
There are currently 164 patients in the state on ventilators, up three from the day previous.
There are 6,889 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 505 active cases in Washington County and 524 in Benton County.
There were 2,587 PCR tests and 238 antigen tests announced Monday.
The new cases bring the total cumulative count in Arkansas to 503,089 since the pandemic began.
The top counties for new cases on Monday were Washington (21), Benton (19), and Pulaski (18).
Fayetteville Public Schools are reporting COVID-19 cases in their district as well. The school dashboard on Monday, Oct. 11 showed 4 new positive cases, for a total of 23 positive cases currently active in the district. There are 63 students currently in quarantine, and 20 of those are quarantining due to probable close contact at school. The district announced one new positive cases among staff, for a total of two active positive staff cases. One staff member is currently in quarantine or isolation, according to the district's dashboard.
Arkansas is averaging 690 new cases per day, or 23 per 100,000 residents over the last two weeks. According to the New York Times COVID-19 tracker, cases in the state are down by 37% over the last 14 days.
The state announced that 1,195 additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, bringing the total number of doses given by the state to 2,988,584. The state lists 287,084 as partially immunized, and 1,361,176 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.
The CDC recently announced a recommendation for a booster shot for those who received the Pfizer vaccine who are over 65 years of age, those with pre-existing medical conditions, and for individuals with occupations (teachers, health care workers, grocer workers, etc) that put them in close contact with the public. Here's more info on that.
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.
