Arkansas COVID-19 cases increased by 1,496 over the last seven days, according to the Arkansas Department of Health website update on Tuesday. The increase is up from the 1,358 cases reported over the previous seven-day period.

This week’s count averages to about 213 new cases per day in the state, up from from 194 the previous week.

There are 2,527 cases of COVID-19 considered active in the state, which includes those that have tested positive by both PCR and antigen testing methods. That number is up from the 2,056 active cases reported the previous Tuesday.

In Northwest Arkansas, the ADH dashboard currently lists 303 active cases in Washington County and 254 in Benton County.

Hospitalizations were down by 8 over that same period, bringing the total number of patients hospitalized in the state to 56.

State officials also announced 9 new deaths in the past week, bringing the total number of Arkansans who have died as a result of the pandemic to 11,418.

There are currently 6 patients on ventilators statewide, down 6 over the last week.

There were 14,010 tests and 7,186 antigen tests announced Tuesday.

The new cases bring the total cumulative count in Arkansas to 838,971.

The top counties for new cases over the last seven days were Pulaski (336), Washington (181), and Benton (150).

Arkansas is averaging 7 cases per 100,000 residents over the last two weeks. According to the New York Times COVID-19 tracker, cases in the state are up by 72% over the last 14 days.

The state announced that 9,617 additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, bringing the total number of doses given by the state to 4,076,401. The state lists 376,151 people as partially immunized, and 1,592,240 individuals as fully immunized.

All Arkansans ages 5 and older are currently eligible for a vaccine. Those who need assistance locating a vaccine can call 1-800-985-6030.