Arkansas COVID-19 cases increased by 4,286 over the last seven days, according to the Arkansas Department of Health website update on Tuesday. The increase is down from the 5,569 cases reported over the previous seven-day period.
This week's count averages to about 612 new cases per day in the state, down from 795 the previous week.
There are 7,987 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 down from the 9,652 active cases reported the previous Tuesday.
In Northwest Arkansas, the ADH dashboard currently lists 531 active cases in Washington County and 387 in Benton County.
Hospitalizations were up by 20 this week, bringing the total number of patients hospitalized in the state to 296.
State officials also announced 53 new deaths in the past week, bringing the total number of Arkansans who have died as a result of the pandemic to 12,017.
There are currently 20 patients on ventilators statewide, up two from the last week.
There were 15,333 PCR tests and 11,498 antigen tests announced Tuesday.
The new cases bring the total cumulative count in Arkansas to 947,211.
The top counties for new cases over the last seven days were Pulaski (551), Washington (270), and Benton (222).
Arkansas is averaging 20 cases 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 14,641 doses of the vaccine were given over the past seven days.
All Arkansans ages 6 months and older are currently eligible for a vaccine. A new updated bivalent vaccine that targets the original and omicron strains of the virus is also now available in Arkansas.
Those who need assistance locating a vaccine can call 1-800-985-6030.
