The number of active covid-19 cases at public schools dropped to 3,029, a decline of about 12% compared with four days earlier, according to state Department of Health data released Monday.
Active case remain elevated compared with two months earlier, when the state Health Department on Nov. 15 reported 2,215 active covid-19 cases in public schools.
The state Department of Health releases data on active covid-19 infections twice weekly, typically on Mondays and Thursdays.
Three districts in Northwest Arkansas topped the list with the most active covid-19 cases.
The report listed Springdale School District with 168 active cases, followed by Bentonville School District with 140 cases and Rogers School District with 125.
But the totals for all three districts fell compared with totals reported Thursday.
The case numbers include students and staff. Cumulative case totals for the state's public schools show 33,191 covid-19 cases since June 15. While some cases lack complete information, the cumulative total for public schools includes 9,459 faculty or staff cases and 22,277 student cases, according to the state Health Department.
The Pulaski County Special School District on Monday announced that Maumelle Middle School would be the fifth school in the district to offer only virtual instruction this week.
The middle school "has quarantined an increasing number of students and staff in a short period of time who have been identified as probable close contacts," according to a statement from the district. Students are expected to return to in-person instruction on Monday.
The Little Rock School District reported Monday having 15 new covid-19 cases since 3 p.m. Friday among students and staff across the district, including among students enrolled in virtual education.
The state Health Department report also listed a decline in the number of active covid-19 cases at the state's colleges and universities. The active college case total dropped to 645 from 731 four days earlier.
The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville topped all colleges with 137 active covid-19 cases, followed by the University of Central Arkansas with 63 active cases and Arkansas Tech University with 52 cases. The latest totals for the three colleges showed a decline compared with last week for UA and UCA, while cases increased at Arkansas Tech.