Case update: Arkansas COVID-19 cases increase by 1,855 over past 7 days

Arkansas COVID-19 cases increased by 1,855 over the last seven days, according to the Arkansas Department of Health website update on Tuesday. The increase is down slightly from the 1,946 cases reported over the previous seven-day period.

This week's count averages to about 265 new cases per day in the state, down from 278 the previous week.

There are 2,761 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 also down a bit from the 2,998 active cases reported the previous Tuesday.

In Northwest Arkansas, the ADH dashboard currently lists 237 active cases in Washington County and 148 in Benton County.

Hospitalizations were up by 11 this week, bringing the total number of patients hospitalized in the state to 146.

State officials also announced 63 new deaths in the past week, bringing the total number of Arkansans who have died as a result of the pandemic to 12,502.

There are currently seven patients on ventilators statewide, down 2 from the last week.

There were 12,990 PCR tests and 6,854 antigen tests announced Tuesday.

The new cases bring the total cumulative count in Arkansas to 960,255.

The top counties for new cases over the last seven days were Pulaski (226), Craighead (156), and Washington (113).

Arkansas is averaging nine 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 4% over the last 14 days.

The state announced that 23,179 doses of the vaccine were given over the past seven days.

All Arkansans ages 6 months and older are currently eligible for a vaccine. New bivalent vaccines targeting the original strain of the virus and omicron strains is also now available in Arkansas. Those who need assistance locating a vaccine can call 1-800-985-6030.