LITTLE ROCK (AP) – The number of people hospitalized in Arkansas because of COVID-19 reached 1,025 on Tuesday as the governor and legislative leaders prepared to discuss calls to allow schools to require face masks.
The Department of Health reported 45 new hospitalizations because of the virus. The state reported 387 COVID-19 patients under intensive care and 205 on ventilators. Only 3% of the state’s intensive care unit beds and 20% of its hospital beds are available.
Arkansas ranks second in the country for new cases per capita, according to Johns Hopkins University research data.
Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson planned to meet with the GOP leaders of the House and Senate to discuss calls to lift a new law banning state and local mask mandates. Democratic lawmakers, the Little Rock school board and others have urged the state to allow school districts to require masks.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI