Governor's weekly update

(6/8/21) Governor’s weekly COVID update 

The following statistics were shared at the governor’s weekly COVID-19 update on Tuesday, June 8, and posted on the Arkansas Department of Health’s (ADH) website:

• 342,726 total cases, up 231 from Monday.
• 1,656 total active cases, up 62 from Monday.
• 5,852 total deaths, up three from Monday.
• 204 cases requiring hospitalization, up 29 from Monday.
• 37 cases requiring a ventilator, up four from Monday. 
• 10,364 cumulative cases in Garland County, up four from Monday.
• 46 active cases in Garland County, down four from Monday.
• 10,054 recoveries in Garland County, up eight from Monday.
• 263 deaths in Garland County, no change from Monday.

In the past 24 hours, the number of positive PCR tests added in Arkansas was 111, with all being from the community (none were from correctional facilities). There were 120 positive antigen results from a total of 694 antigen tests in the past 24 hours. The number of PCR tests received in the past 24 hours was 1,417. 

Hutchinson said today’s 231 continues to be consistent to what it has been over the past five weeks. The increase of 29 individuals requiring hospitalization due to COVID-19, raising the total to 204, was pointed out by the governor, as well as four additional patients requiring the use of a ventilator.  

In the vaccination progress update, of the 2,651,460 total doses distributed to the state, 76.2%, or 2,019,977, have been administered. There have been 926,483 Arkansans fully immunized, and 235,953 have been partially immunized. 

Hutchinson announced a new education policy looking ahead at the next school year – if there has been exposure to COVID-19, no quarantine will be required for those who have been fully vaccinated. This policy applies to higher education, as well. The governor explained that the benefits to this include students being able to continue to attend school, minimizing education loss, and participate in extracurricular activities, decreasing the number of cancelled or rescheduled athletic events. It will also minimize disruption to the workforce, he explained, as many parents over the past year had to miss bouts of 10-14 days of work to stay at home with quarantined children. 

He is hopeful that the current vaccination total of 10% of the 12-18 age group will increase over the summer. He encouraged families to call the vaccination call line at 1-800-985-6030 to find a location to receive the vaccinations. 

There has also been an increase of hospitalizations among the 25-48 age group over the past three months, rising from 94 in March to 154 in May. Hutchinson explained this is another group they are focusing on to improve the vaccination rates. 

Secretary of Health Dr. Jose Romero spoke to the importance of getting school-age children, ages 12-18, vaccinated. He cited a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study in which 204 adolescents who required hospitalization due to COVID-19 were followed. A third of them required ICU admission, and 5% need ventilation. None of the study participants died, but there were prolonged hospital stays.