The number of active covid-19 cases in Arkansas has surpassed 100,000, meaning more than three percent of the state’s population has the virus, and the number of hospitalizations has increased to a new record of 1,658, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Friday at a news briefing.
“With where we are right now in this pandemic, and with the Omicron variant we do believe we are managing our way through it,” Hutchinson said. “We are responding to the needs that are out there and we are hopeful we will see the cases go down.”
Hutchinson gave an update on hospital expansion from the approved $50 million dollars. He said that beds have been opened in hospitals that have received that money to increase capacity for the surging cases.
According to reports from Thursday, about 42 beds were open with about 54 left to be opened meaning additional capacity is coming soon with more beds coming online.
He said it is important to see the cases of covid-19 and the Omicron variant compared to past spikes and to see how while the cases are much higher now, hospitalizations are far less in comparison to the current case number.
Hutchinson, there are still about 370,000 at-home tests available at local health units with libraries having a supply as well. These tests should help alleviate testing demands giving a cushion while waiting for federal tests to be delivered.
Southeast Arkansas Cases
Ashley County
Cumulative Positives: 4,371
Recovered: 3,593
Deaths: 56
Active: 720
Bradley County
Cumulative Positives: 2,639
Recovered: 2,153
Deaths: 43
Active: 443
Chicot County
Cumulative Positives: 2,533
Recovered: 2234
Deaths: 49
Active: 250
Cleveland County
Cumulative Positives: 1,988
Recovered: 1,626
Deaths:33
Active: 329
Desha County
Cumulative Positives: 2,689
Recovered: 2,201
Deaths: 35
Active: 452
Drew County
Cumulative Positives: 4,043
Recovered: 3,342
Deaths: 58
Active: 642
Lincoln County
Cumulative Positives: 4,518
Recovered: 4,043
Deaths: 59
Active: 416
