Arkansas hits new high for people hospitalized with COVID-19

wireready_10-03-2020-21-54-04_00108_asahutchinson3

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson was joined by members of his cabinet to update citizens on the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday.

Listen to the address in full here:

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The number of people in Arkansas hospitalized due to the illness caused by the coronavirus hit a new high on Tuesday as a White House task force said the state still has one of the highest rates for new virus cases in the country.

The Department of Health said five more people were hospitalized with COVID-19, bringing the total hospitalized in Arkansas to 529. The state’s previous high for COVID-19 hospitalizations was 526 on Aug. 4.

The state’s COVID-19 fatalities increased by 22 to 1,469. The state’s confirmed cases rose by 532 to 84,203, while probable cases increased by 183 to 3,841. However, the actual number of cases in Arkansas is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.

A White House task force said in a weekly report that Arkansas had the ninth highest rate of cases per capita in the country last week and 19th for test positivity. The White House Coronavirus Task Force report said the state had made “impressive declines” in key areas but warned the state’s gains were “fragile.”