The Arkansas Department of Health announced that COVID-19 cases in Arkansas increased by 137 on Monday.
State officals also announced 8 new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths in the state as a result of the pandemic to 8,384.
Hospitalizations were up by 2, bringing the total number of patients hospitalized in the state to 331.
There are currently 89 patients in the state on ventilators, down four from the day previous.
There are 4,420 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 298 active cases in Washington County and 471 in Benton County.
There were 2,106 PCR tests and 186 antigen tests announced Monday.
The new cases bring the total cumulative count in Arkansas to 513,352 since the pandemic began.
The top counties for new cases on Monday were Sebastian (16), Pulaski (15), and Benton (13).
Fayetteville Public Schools are reporting COVID-19 cases in their district as well. The school dashboard on Friday (Oct. 29) showed no new positive cases, for a total of two positive cases currently active in the district. There are 12 students currently in quarantine, and one of those are quarantining due to probable close contact at school. The district announced no new positive cases among staff, for a total of one active positive staff cases. No staff members are currently in quarantine or isolation, according to the district's dashboard.
Arkansas is averaging 424 new cases per day, or 14 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 27% over the last 14 days.
The state announced that 2,820 additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, bringing the total number of doses given by the state to 4,170,520. The state lists 287,324 as partially immunized, and 1,398,784 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.
The CDC also authorized booster shots for those who received the J&J vaccine and the Moderna vaccine. Any one 18 or over that received the J&J vaccine more than 2 months ago is eligible for a booster.
Moderna boosters are now available to the same group eligible for the Pfizer boosters, including individuals over 65 years of age, those with certain health conditions, and individuals that work in high risk settings. Here's more info on boosters.
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.
