New daily record set for COVID hospitalizations

COVID-19 hospitalizations set a new daily record and Arkansans on ventilators jumped back above 100 in Monday’s (Oct. 26) report from the Arkansas Department of Health. Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the numbers are “somber reminders” of the pandemic’s reach.

Confirmed and probable known cumulative cases totaled 106,727 on Monday, up 612 cases. COVID deaths numbered 1,833, up 21. With 16 more Arkansans hospitalized because of the virus, the number in hospitals reached a daily record of 649.

Gov. Hutchinson said Arkansans need to prepare for what could be a “challenging winter.”

“These numbers should put everyone in Arkansas on alert. We are not having a steep escalation of cases but we do see the new cases steadily increasing in the last few weeks. The increased hospitalizations and deaths are somber reminders of the current threat,” Gov. Hutchinson noted is a statement. “United, we will have success but it takes everyone to fight hard in the coming weeks. We must do our part to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Arkansas, especially as we head toward what could be a very challenging winter.”

The ADH on Monday updated its report on COVID cases in educational institutions. The update showed a decline in active cases in public schools, private schools and colleges and universities.

• Public schools (as of Oct. 26)
Cumulative active cases: 962, down from 987 on Oct. 22
Cumulative cases: 7,968, up from 7,546 on Oct. 22

• Private schools (as of Oct. 26)
Cumulative active cases: 46, down from 66 on Oct. 22
Cumulative cases: 460, up from 442 on Oct. 22

• Colleges and universities (as of Oct. 26)
Cumulative active cases: 377, down from 394 on Oct. 22
Cumulative cases: 5,895, up from 5,726 on Oct. 22

COVID REPORT – Oct. 26
New known COVID-19 cases, active cases, tests
• 99,410 known cumulative PCR cases, with 456 new community cases and 74 cases in correctional facilities
• 7,317 “probable” cases, up from 7,235 on Sunday
• There are 7,995 active cases, down from 8,113 on Sunday
• There were 6,965 test results provided in the previous 24 hours.
• There were 641 antigen tests in the previous 24 hours with 134 positives.

Deaths
• 1,676, up 21
• 157 “probable” COVID-related deaths, unchanged

Hospitalizations
649, up 16

Ventilators
102, up 7

Recovered cases
89,730

The top five counties with new known cases reported Monday were: Pulaski (53), Washington (45), Craighead (42), Sebastian (37), and Benton (30). The counties accounted for 45.4% of the 1,028 new community cases.

As of Monday at 4 p.m., there were 8,687,289 U.S. cases and 225,580 deaths. Globally, there were 43,374,127 cases and 1,157,284 deaths.