(04/03/20) Statewide cases at 704, up 61 since yesterday At Governor Asa Hutchinson’s daily COVID-19 press conference, updates were given regarding the crisis that included the state’s current total number of cases: 704. This total is up 61 from yesterday’s number of 643.
Among the statewide total of 704, there are 20 children (ages 18 and younger), 487 adults (ages 19-64) and 197 older adults (ages 65 and above). There were no additional deaths, so the total remains at 12. The number of healthcare workers who have tested positive is up five from yesterday to a total of 96. There are currently 71 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, with 26 on ventilators. A total of 60 have recovered.
Hutchinson shared that the first shipment of hospital protective gear, or PPE, has arrived. It is the first from the state’s own efforts of procurement, and he applauded the work being done by the UAMS procurement team. This shipment will be distributed to hospitals across the state, based on priority. Dr. Cam Patterson, chancellor of UAMS, said another shipment is scheduled to arrive on April 12, and it would be enough to support the state for 30 days.
The governor said that testing continues to increase. The statewide total of processed tests is at 9,626. Yesterday, the total number of test reports was 658, which included 62 from UAMS, 144 from the Arkansas Department of Health and 452 from commercial labs.
The governor continued to stress the importance of social distancing. He has been impressed at what he has witnessed with regards to businesses taking the social distancing guidelines seriously, but urges individual Arkansans to understand and follow their important role in following the best practices.