Gov. Asa Hutchinson reported 806 new confirmed cases, bringing the cumulative number to 26,052. It is the second highest number of new cases in a single day.
He also pointed out that today (July 9) marks the 100th COVID-19 press conference update since the beginning of the pandemic in Arkansas.
There were 110 new cases in correctional facilities and 696 in the community. Pulaski County had the most number of new cases with 104, Washington County had 78, Sebastian County had 56, Faulkner County had 51, and Benton County had 49. Furthermore, 10 counties had between 10 to 20 new cases.
“We have an increase in cases in many counties now so we really need to take efforts throughout the state,” Secretary of Health Dr. Nate Smith said. “ I know we have focused our efforts quite a bit on the northwest part of the state and I’ve drawn our attention to the central region of the state, but we need to be careful in all parts of the state.”
According to Smith, the state has nearly 20,000 recoveries with 19,992 which is up 596 from yesterday. There are 5,751 active cases with 5,176 in the community, 444 in correctional facilities and 131 in nursing homes.
The number of hospitalizations has increased by 36 to 394 and the number of deaths has increased by four to 209. Currently, 32 COVID-19 patients are on a ventilator.
Yesterday, there were 4,734 COVID-19 tests completed across the state. The overall positivity percentage rate for the total tests completed is 7.2 percent.
“We want to get that positivity rate down and the only way you do that is to control the spread,” Hutchinson said. “Wear your protective mask so that you do not contribute to it.”
