Arkansas reports 26 new virus deaths, hospitalizations drop

wireready_02-17-2021-23-56-04_00147_coronavirusupdates

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Arkansas reported 26 new deaths Wednesday from the coronavirus and a drop in hospitalizations as this week’s winter weather appeared to keep the state’s new cases down.

The state Department of Health reported Arkansas’ COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began now total 5,313. Hospitalizations from the virus decreased by 36 to 602.

The state’s total virus cases rose by 667 to 314,192.

Beyond weather-related decreases, the rolling average number of daily new cases over the past two weeks in Arkansas has decreased by nearly 57%, according to numbers compiled by Johns Hopkins University researchers.

More than 26% of the state’s 8,788 hospital beds and nearly 9% of its intensive care unit beds are available, according to the Health Department. There are 233 COVID-19 patients in ICUs around the state.

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