At today’s COVID-19 briefing from Gov. Asa Hutchinson, officials noted positive cases in the state are now at 165, up from yesterday’s total of 118. There are 10 cases in children; 62 cases age 65 and up; and 93 cases between the ages of 19-64.
Sixty-one percent of positive cases are female while 39 percent were male. At one point, 19 people have been hospitalized with 12 patients in intensive care and six placed on ventilators.
There have been 44 patients and workers at state nursing homes that have tested positive for the virus. In one Little Rock nursing home, 35 residents and six staff workers have tested positive.
State health officials also noted that only five to 10 tests per day were being processed two weeks ago. At today’s briefing, they said that thanks to expanded lab capacity, 139 tests were processed Saturday, but also stressed that expanded testing capacity will see the continued rise of positive tests.
Gov. Hutchinson also noted he does not want to go any further in terms of any type of statewide lockdown at this point.
“It’s very important to Arkansas that we don’t have to do a lockdown of all commerce,” Hutchinson said.
The governor noted that if all Arkansans do their civic responsibility and take the current Centers for Disease Control guidelines seriously, then the state might beat the predicted target peak of six to eight weeks.
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The new White River Now mobile app has started featuring regular COVID-19 updates and podcasts. In addition to the updates featured on the White River Now family of radio stations, the COVID-19 podcast section also features two new interviews with Sen. James Sturch and state Rep. Stu Smith. Download the free White River Now app today from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, and keep up-to-date on all local and state coronavirus information and to listen to the streams of White River Now radio stations.
We also carry live feeds of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s COVID-19’s briefings on-air, online, and through the White River Now app on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ and on White River Now’s Facebook page.
Get up-to-date local and regional news along with the latest sports and weather every weekday morning by listening to Gary B. on Ozark Newsline, broadcast from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and 99.5 Hits Now. Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Add don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
