FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Health announced that COVID-19 cases in Arkansas increased by 52 on Monday.
The state also announced 5 new deaths as a result of the virus, bringing the toll in the state to 5,544 since the pandemic began.
Hospitalizations were down by 8, bringing the total number of Arkansans hospitalized in the state to 184. There are 42 patients on ventilators, no change from yesterday.
There are currently 2,332 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 today lists 208 active cases of the virus in Washington County, with 272 in Benton County.
The state reported 1,756 new PCR tests on Monday, along with 132 new antigen tests.
The new cases bring the total cumulative count in Arkansas to 328,707 since the pandemic began.
The top counties for new cases on Monday were Pulaski (12), Washington (6), Lonoke (5), Union (5), and Garland (4).
Vaccine update
The state announced it has vaccinated 2,728 Arkansans since last count yesterday, bringing the total number of doses given by the state to 859,907. In addition, a federal program to vaccinate at retail pharmacies resulted in an additional 987 people vaccinated in the state, bringing the total number of Arkansans vaccinated as part of their efforts to 99,884.
The state is now vaccinating individuals in the 1-A through 1-C priority groups on the state. The groups eligible to receive vaccines includes individuals over 65 years of age, workers in food manufacturing, and workers in education including higher ed, K-12, and daycare, essential workers in food and agriculture, grocery stores, meal delivery, postal service, public transit, government workers, houses of worship, along with those with developmental disabilities. As mentioned above, the 1-C group added today includes essential workers in several categories including energy, finance, food service, IT and communication, legal, media, public health/human services, public safety, shelter and housing, and transportation and logistis, along with and those with pre-existing conditions aged 16-64, and people living in congregate settings.
Local pharmacies, including Collier Drug, Medical Arts Pharmacy, and Heartland Pharmacy in Fayetteville are working to vaccinate those groups now, as are several Walmart and Sam’s Club locations around the state.
Vaccination clinics are also taking place around the region, including at Washington Regional, Northwest Health, and Mercy in Springdale.
