Total cases top 20,000, hospitalizations at 300
With the addition of 439 new cases of COVID-19, the total number for the state rose to 20,257 on Monday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said during his daily briefing.
Hospitalizations increased by seven for 300 currently hospitalized with 63 on ventilators. Deaths went up by one for 265 total.
The top counties for new cases are Washington County with 92, Pulaski County with 56, Benton County with 48, Sevier County with 31 and Sebastian County with 22.
Saline County currently has 261 total positive cases with 63 active. Nearly 200 have recovered while deaths remain at two.
The state received results for
4,939 tests Monday, bringing June’s testing total to 167,168.
Hutchinson showed a graph comparing southern states where Arkansas had the third highest testing per capita.
“It is a good success story that we have been able to expand testing,” Hutchinson said.
He also reported the state has received 50,000 N-95 masks, plus an additional 10,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
He said he spoke on a call with the governors of other states and Vice President Mike Pence and discussed ways to increase testing, especially in hot spots, and encourage safe behavior.
When asked about the recent rise in cases in Pulaski County, Secretary of Health Dr. Nate Smith said there is no single event or source that can be pointed to. He pointed to the dense population of the county and said small clusters add up. He reminded people to be vigilant and wear a face covering.
He also feels that there is a danger when the focus is on one part of the state, as it has been with the northwest, people in other parts do not feel the pandemic applies to them.
In answer to the decrease in cases over the last few days, he said he believes it is due to both testing and tracing and leadership in communities that have encouraged people to follow guidelines.
Hutchinson said he still expects spikes. He is concerned about the upcoming holiday weekend. On Thursday, he plans to focus on encouraging people to act responsibly and avoid the
spread.
Smith was asked about the list of churches where people had attended within the 14 days prior to diagnosis. He said when he originally shared the graph showing that, he purposely did not include the names, but the full list was requested and fell under the Freedom of Information Act. He said he originally only meant to highlight significant cases.
Smith emphasized that a church being on that list does not mean that is where a person got the virus or that it was spread there.
Hutchinson said he and Smith have focused on discussing how to slow cases and not discussed when more restrictions will be lifted.
In answer to a question about his recent appearance on ABC, Hutchinson said his priority on race relations is the adoption of a hate crimes statute in Arkansas, which he said legislators are working on. If Confederate monuments are removed from the Capitol, that decision is up to legislators.
Also regarding that appearance, Hutchinson said he is encouraging the administration to aggressively use the Defense Production Act to ensure there is adequate supplies of personal protection equipment and testing supplies for the future. He would like to see an increase in testing at hospitals, but they need supplies.
When asked about the previous week’s increase in cases, Hutchinson said that can be attributed to clusters and people becoming complacent about their safety, among other factors. Smith agreed that when people are not attentive the virus can spread.
Smith said the main purpose of case investigators is not to try to assign blame for spread, but give information to those who may be sick and learn who they have been in contact with to let them know they may need to get tested and isolate.
Hutchinson holds his daily briefings most days at 1:30 p.m. They can be viewed through Youtube Live.