FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Health announced that COVID-19 cases in Arkansas increased by 1,824 on Friday.
The state also announced 41 new deaths as a result of the virus, bringing the toll in the state to 5,050 since the pandemic began.
Of the new cases added Friday, 138 are from Washington County and 128 come from Benton County.
Hospitalizations were down 7, bringing the total number of Arkansans hospitalized with the virus to 808. There are 144 Arkansans on ventilators, down one from yesterday.
There are currently 16,944 cases of COVID-19 considered active in the state, which includes those that have tested positive by both PCR and antigen testing methods.
The state reported 11,496 new PCR tests on Friday, along with 3,294 new antigen tests.
The new cases bring the total cumulative count in Arkansas to 304,723 since the pandemic began.
The state announced it has vaccinated 21,964 Arkansans since last count yesterday, bringing the total number of doses given in the state to 351,485. In addition, a federal program to vaccinate long-term care residents resulted in an additional 492 people vaccinated in the state. The number of Arkansans vaccinated on Friday is the highest number recorded since the vaccine was approved in December.
The state began vaccinating the 1-B priority group on Jan. 18, which includes individuals over 70 years of age, and workers in education including higher ed, K-12, and daycare. Local pharmacies, including Collier Drug, Medical Arts Pharmacy, and Heartland Pharmacy in Fayetteville will vaccinate those in the 70 and older group, and some education workers. Others will be vaccinated through mass clinics organized by their employers.
