At Friday’s statewide COVID-19 briefing from Gov. Asa Hutchinson, officials reported that there are now 704 positive cases in the state. That’s up 61 from yesterday.
Testing is also increasing, the governor said. Almost 10,000 tests have been processed, and out of those tests, 7.3 percent have been positive. UAMS and The Arkansas Department of Health have been testing overnight and are current, while commercial labs are taking three days or longer in sending results. Testing has been done in every county of Arkansas.
UAMS has also prepared a mobile testing unit to respond to areas that need help with the testing demands. The first visit from the unit was to Helena, where 123 were screened and 30 were tested. UAMS should know the test results later today.
The governor also said the first PPE procurement order has arrived to be distributed while gloves and masks have been ordered from overseas. The state should be receiving shipments through next week, Hutchinson said. Also, L’Oreal’s Arkansas factory is making hand sanitizer at no charge for the state’s health care workers, state officials reported.
Here are other stats from Friday’s briefing:
- Of the 704 positive cases, officials say 20 are children, 197 are 65 or older, and 487 are in the age range of 18-64.
- Seventy-one are hospitalized. That figure is up five from Thursday. There are 26 patients on ventilators, up three from yesterday.
- No deaths have been reported as of Friday afternoon, so the statewide total stands at 12.
- There have been a total of 60 positive cases that have recovered.
- Two new positive cases were reported at the Lakes of Maumelle nursing facility while the total number of positives in state nursing homes stands at 53.
- The total of health-care workers testing positive is now at 96, up five from Thursday.
- Officials listed diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease, and chronic kidney disease as underlying conditions for coronavirus risk factors, along with tobacco and excessive alcohol use.
- One more county has been added to the list of Arkansas counties with positive cases: Monroe County.
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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 new interviews with Sen. James Sturch, Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, Stone County Judge Stacey Avey, 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, on White River Now’s Facebook page, and through the White River Now app on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ.
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