Arkansas coronavirus cases continue to rise

COVID- 19 update shows increase in state, county

ralphhardin@gmail.com Arkansas and Crittenden County continue to see more COVID-19 cases.

Overall, the state saw a 24hour increase of 522 positive cases since Tuesday, according to numbers annouced by Governor Asa Hutchinson, bringing the cumulative total for positive cases in the state to more than 16,000, with around 5,000 of those cases still active and 227 deaths.

“The overall positivity rate across the state is less than 7 percent,” said County Judge Woody Wheeless in relaying the governor’s update to the community.

“The northwest region continues to be the state hotspot, with 124 new cases in Washington County, 85 in Hot Springs County and 78 in Benton County.”

Those three counties account for 287 of the 522 new cases being reported.

“The Governor set a goal of 120,000 test performed in June and that goal has been met with several days left in this month,” said Wheeless. “Total tests stands at 120,053 as of the 21st.”

That number included more than 7,000 tests performed in the past 24 hours.

In Crittenden County, the total number of COVID-19 cases has surpassed 600, with a one-day increase of 23 cases on Tuesday. The county still has more than 100 active cases, with 10 deaths total.

County Judge Woody Wheeless