Arkansas recorded on Friday 838 new cases of covid-19, including 181 in correctional facilities, continuing a steady increase in cases that followed a dip that began over the weekend.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson also said 17 more people died of the virus, bringing the toll to 756.
The number of patients hospitalized decreased by 26 to 407, and Department of Health Secretary Jose Romero said the number of patients on a ventilator decreased by four to 95.
Of the 181 correctional cases, Hutchinson said 123 were from the Varner Unit in Lincoln County.
The number of active cases statewide was 5,496, Romero said, including 225 in nursing homes, 668 in correctional facilities and 4,603 in the general population.
Counties with the highest number of new cases included Pulaski with 65, Benton with 49, Washington with 41, Pope with 39, Faulkner with 29, Jefferson with 27, Sebastian with 27, Craighead with 25, Garland with 21, Mississippi with 21 and Independence with 20.
However, as measured by percent positivity of covid-19 tests in the last two weeks, many of those counties were doing well compared with those that are less populous.
A graphic presented at the news conference showed Searcy County had the highest percent positivity rate in the state from Aug. 12-26 at 29.8%. Neighboring Stone County was at 23.2%.
In southwest Arkansas, Little River County was at 25.9%, Howard County was at 20.6% and Sevier County was at 19.5%.
As new cases ticked up significantly for the fourth day in a row Friday, following the 722 reported Thursday the 649 on Wednesday, and the 480 reported Tuesday, Hutchinson once again urged Arkansans to be responsible in following covid-19 precautions including social distancing and mask wearing this weekend.
“What happens with our behavior on the weekend will impact us next week and the week beyond in terms of our schools, our workplace, our families,” Hutchinson said. “We can’t say, ‘Well, let’s just have a party this weekend’ or ‘Let’s have a good backyard BBQ’ and invite 30 people over. We have to follow the same social distancing guidelines on the weekend.”
EARLIER:
Gov. Asa Hutchinson and state health officials will provide an update on Arkansas' covid-19 response at 1:30 p.m.
The total number of coronavirus cases reported in Arkansas remained at 58,745 Friday morning, according to a state website. The death toll remained at 739.
Check back to watch the live video.
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