SITES continue to test for covid-19.

FAYETTEVILLE — About 9,700 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 25,600 tests total have been done in Washington County as of 4 p.m. Friday, according to the department. A total of 50,969 tests have been done in Benton County.

About 3,400 were tested in Washington County this past week while tests were conducted on about 6,300 people in Benton County.

Washington County had 5,536 cases, including 612 active cases, according to the department. Benton County had 4,126 cases, including 454 active cases. Active cases are those who aren’t recovered.

At least 111 Washington and Benton county residents had died of the virus as of Friday, according to information from the county coroners. Of those who have died, 53 were Springdale residents, 23 were Rogers residents, 11 were Fayetteville residents and seven were Bentonville residents. Elkins, Siloam Springs, Lowell, Bella Vista, Bethel Heights and Gentry each have had fewer than five deaths.

Hospitals in Benton and Washington counties had a total of 67 patients in their covid-19 units as of Thursday, according to a statement from the region’s largest health care organizations via Martine Pollard, spokeswoman at Mercy Health System.

Thirty-seven patients were on ventilators.

The number includes patients with and without covid-19, according to the statement.

Most testing sites in Northwest Arkansas are prioritizing 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.

How many specimens Mercy Health System has collected to be tested wasn’t available Friday.

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 14,879 specimens from 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 state Health Department began testing May 18 at county health units, including Fayetteville and Rogers. The Washington County unit tested 8,168 people, and the Benton County unit tested 3,540 people as of Thursday, according to Danyelle McNeill, department spokeswoman.

The numbers include mass testing events conducted by the clinics.

Washington Regional Health System has collected 12,335 specimens to be tested from 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.