Arkansas COVID-19 cases up to 7,818

(06/02/20)  Arkansas COVID-19 cases up to 7,818  The following stats were shared Tuesday at Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s daily COVID-19 news conference in Little Rock and posted on the Arkansas Department of Health’s website:

• 7,818 total confirmed cases, up 375 from 7,443 on Monday.
• 2,115 active cases, up 206 from Monday.
• 5,567 recoveries, up 166 from Monday.
• 136 deaths, up three from Monday.
• 132 cases requiring hospitalization, up 11 from Monday.
• 31 cases on a ventilator, up five from Monday.
• 136 cases in Garland County, no change from Monday.
• 132 recoveries in Garland County, up two from Monday.
• 1 death in Garland County, no change from Monday.

The new cases added since yesterday totaling 375, with only one from a correctional facility, is a record number of new community cases from a single day. There were a total of 3,807 tests results received, including 713 from the lab at the Arkansas Department of Health, with a positivity rate of 4.4%. Dr. Nate Smith clarified that the positivity rate, as well as the data on total tests and positive results, provided at the daily COVID-19 press conferences is preliminary data. Once all of the numbers are compiled, the positivity rates and daily totals may be adjusted. The governor and Smith shared that the testing goal for the state of Arkansas is 120,000, or 1% of the population each week.

The counties with higher number of new cases include Benton (65), Pulaski (63; 46% of new cases are from one nursing home in Jacksonville); Washington (57), Sevier (33), Craighead (21), Yell (14) and Crittenden (10).

Regionally, the Northwest and Southwest (primarily Sevier County) quadrants continue to see rises in cases while the Northeast and Southeast quadrants continue to show decreasing numbers.

The governor provided positive news from the State Revenue Report showing that in May, the state was up $80 million over the revised forecast, while being 3.4% below May 2019. Year-to-date, the state is up $287 million over the revised forecast.

Hutchinson and Dr. Jose Romero reported on the COVID-19 Latinx Stakeholder Group, which was established and began meeting in early May. It includes 28 members from public health, government, cities, health care, faith leaders, business, media and community. The group is focusing on awareness and access to testing, which is free at any local health department across the state. They also are working to ensure communication is translated and disseminated to the Latin community.