The state of Arkansas has officially reached over 3,000 COVID-19 cases with 3,017 total. Gov. Asa Hutchinson reported 76 new cases today at his daily COVID-19 press conference. 60 of the 76 cases are from the community with the remaining 16 cases coming from Cummins Prison.
In total, 856 inmates and 50 staff members at Cummins Prison have tested positive. 32 inmates and 15 staff members are still waiting to receive their test results.
Across Arkansas, 316 healthcare workers have tested positive. 203 nursing home residents and 115 staff members have been infected.
Two more individuals have been hospitalized since yesterday, bringing the total number of hospitalizations to 109. 25 of those individuals are on ventilators. Deaths related to COVID-19 are up to 50.
This past weekend, Gov. Hutchinson hosted the Arkansas Surge Campaign in effort to increase the number of testing per day. On Friday, April 24, 1,079 tests were conducted and had a 7.9 percent positivity rate. On Saturday, April 25, there were 1,598 tests with a 4.8 percent positivity rate. Yesterday, there were 1,506 new testing reports with a positivity rate 1.8 percent. Some results are still being reported and will most likely come in today or tomorrow. In total, 40,074 tests have been conducted across the state.
Gov. Hutchinson is expected to make announcements about easing some restrictions this week.
“In terms of the gating criteria that was given by the White House, it is looking positive in terms of the trends and the trajectory here in the state of Arkansas,” said Gov. Hutchinson.
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