Active COVID-19 cases set another daily record, deaths rise by 65

COVID-19 hospitalizations declined after several days of posting daily records, but active confirmed and probable cases rose by 684 to another daily record of 25,092, according to Wednesday’s report from the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).

The ADH reported another 3,705 confirmed and probable cases, bringing the cumulative total to 242,593. Deaths rose by 65 to reach 3,901. Hospitalizations fell by 2 to 1,321. Available ICU beds fell from 49 on Tuesday to 42 on Wednesday, the lowest level since the pandemic began.

“We continue to see high numbers of new cases across the state. Be mindful of being a safe distance and protecting each other. It has been a tough day with the loss of another 65 of our friends and neighbors to COVID-19. Vaccine doses continue to be distributed across the state to those in Category 1-A, and we are also receiving additional doses each week,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said.

COVID REPORT – Jan 6
New known COVID-19 cases, active cases, tests
• 198,251 known cumulative PCR cases, with 2,316 new community cases and 8 reported cases in correctional facilities
• 44,339 probable cases, up from 42,958 on Tuesday
• There are 16,954 active cases, up from 16,883 on Tuesday
• There were 8,741 test results provided in the previous 24 hours.
• There were 4,477 antigen tests in the previous 24 hours.

Deaths
• 3,252, up 47
• 649 probable COVID-related deaths, up 18

Hospitalizations
1,321, down 2

Ventilators
217, down 7

Recovered cases
178,025

The top five counties with new known cases reported Wednesday were: Pulaski (470), Benton (341), Washington (334), Sebastian (179), and Faulkner (171). The counties accounted for 40.4% of the 3,705 new confirmed and probable cases.

As of Wednesday at 3 p.m., there were 21,201,638 U.S. cases and 359,593 deaths. Globally, there were 86,900,991 cases and 1,877,819 deaths.