Sites continue to test for virus

FAYETTEVILLE — At least 6,839 people in Benton and Washington counties were tested for covid-19 within the past week, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.

A total of 22,108 tests, including 2,665 in the past week, in Washington County were done as of 5 p.m. Friday, according to the department. A total of 44,607 tests, including 4,174 in the past week, were done in Benton County.

Washington County had 4,860 cases, inlcuding 682 active cases, according to the department. Benton County had 3,661 cases, including 473 active cases. Active cases are those that aren’t recovered.

Hospitals in Benton and Washington counties had a total 81 patients in their covid-19 units as of Friday afternoon, according to a statement from the region’s largest health care organizations via Martine Pollard, spokeswoman at Mercy Health System.

Thirty-six patients were on ventilators. The number includes patients with and without covid-19, according to the statement.

Fifty-six people had died of covid-19 in Benton County as of Wednesday, according to information available on the county’s website. All but four of those who died were Benton or Washington county residents. An updated number of how many people had died in Washington County was not available Friday.

Most testing sites in Northwest Arkansas are prioritizing testing of people who have covid-19 symptoms amid concerns about the availability of testing material, according to a joint statement released July 3 from Arkansas Children’s Northwest, Community Clinic, Mercy Northwest Arkansas, Northwest Health, UAMS Northwest, Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks and Washington Regional Medical Center.

Anyone can get tested at the Benton or Washington county health units.

Mercy Health System collected specimens to be tested from 8,814 people from March 20 through Thursday, according to Jennifer Cook, spokeswoman. People who suspect they have covid-19 must call Mercy’s call center and be screened and make an appointment before going to Mercy’s evaluation site in Bentonville.

Community Clinic, which has four coronavirus screening sites in Northwest Arkansas, has collected specimens from 14,166 people from March 30 through Thursday, according to Abbie Luzius, community development manager for Community Clinic. Patients are encouraged, but not required, to call before coming to a clinic.

The Health Department began testing May 18 at county health units, including Fayetteville and Rogers. The Washington County unit tested 2,104 people, and the Benton County unit 1,680 people as of Thursday, according to Danyelle McNeill, Health Department spokeswoman. The numbers do not include mass testing events the clinics have conducted.

Washington Regional Health System has collected specimens to be tested from 11,535 people from March 16 through Thursday at its screening clinics, according to Natalie Hardin, spokeswoman. Patients are encouraged, but not required, to call before going to the clinics.

Specimens to be tested for covid-19 are collected via nasal and mouth swabs.