(04/13/20) Arkansas COVID-19 cases up to 1,410 At Governor Asa Hutchinson’s daily COVID-19 press conference, the following updates as of 1:30 p.m. were shared:
- 1,410 total confirmed cases (up 239 from 1,171 on April 10; up 130 since April 12, which is the largest single-day increase to date)
- 101 confirmed cases in Garland County (from the ADH COVID-19 status page)
- 989 active cases, which discounts recoveries and deaths
- 74 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, including 8 newly hospitalized
- 28 patients currently on a ventilator
- 30 COVID-19-related deaths
- 193 healthcare workers with COVID-19; 58 have recovered
Accounting for clusters of cases leading to the rise in the total statewide count over the weekend were 55 confirmed cases from the federal correctional institution in Forest City, as well as 43 cases from Cummins Maximum Security Prison Unit.
Governor Hutchinson said that this is not a time to let up or to decrease our intensity on fighting the spread of the virus. “Until we have reached our peak, we have to wear our masks, socially distance and avoid large gatherings,” he said. Our efforts thus far have flattened the curve. The projected peak for the state, as calculated by the University of Washington, has been pushed back from April 24 to April 29.
Hutchinson also announced he is forming a Medical Advisory Board for the post-COVID-19 peak, which will be chaired by Dr. Nate Smith. The board will look into what the state can do to avoid peaks in the future, including what types of mitigation efforts we can have in place.