As our state deals with the spread of covid-19 in the midst of a global outbreak, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette will publish five things you need to know each week. We'll be posting these roundups in English, Spanish and Marshallese. You can read our full coverage at arkansasonline.com/coronavirus/. Coronavirus coverage pertaining to crucial public health information will be available for all readers.
Here are this week’s five important things to know about the coronavirus.
• Arkansas has recorded 318,122 confirmed and probable cases of covid-19 since the pandemic began, according to data available Feb. 26. State health officials have reported 5,397 covid-19 deaths and 307,978 recoveries. Officials also reported that Arkansas has given 578,519 doses of the covid-19 vaccine.
• The number of active cases in the state dropped to 6,478 on Feb. 18, the lowest number in five months. Active cases continued to drop throughout the week.
• Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Feb. 23 extended eligibility for the coronavirus vaccines to Arkansans aged 65-69, a group that he previously said wouldn't have access to the shots for another month. The expansion makes about 115,000 more Arkansans eligible.
• Hutchinson said Feb. 26 that he has extended the state’s public health emergency declaration, which was set to expire Feb. 27.
• Officials could learn as early as Feb. 28 how many doses Arkansas will get of the vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson, if the vaccine is issued an emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, state epidemiologist Dr. Jennifer Dillaha said Feb. 24.
SPANISH: arkansasonline.com/news/2021/feb/26/viernes-26-de-febrero-cinco-hechos-importantes-sob/
MARSHALLESE: arkansasonline.com/news/2021/feb/26/bolaide-papode-26-lalem-men/