Hutchinson: ‘Our hospitalizations are still going up’

Arkansas – Hospitalizations in Arkansas are nearing the 1,000 case mark on Monday as the state added 1,017 new COVID-19 cases.

The Arkansas Department of Health reported 974 COVID-19 hospitalizations, that’s up 12 from Sunday.

Those hospitalizations have steadily increased over the weekend with 925 reported on Saturday and 962 reported on Sunday.

ADH also reported today that only 27% percent of hospital beds are available in the state.

In Intensive Care Units statewide, Arkansas also only has 6% of ICU beds available.

384 of COVID-19 patients in Arkansas are in the ICU as of Monday afternoon.

We also had 919 fewer active cases in the state, bringing the total active cases to 16,727.

Arkansas had 30 more people die from COVID-19, with the death toll now at 2,387.

No areas in Northeast Arkansas made the list of top counties with new cases.

“We saw a decrease in new cases from last Monday, and this is a hopeful sign; but our hospitalizations are still going up,” Gov. Hutchinson said in a news release. “How we handle Thanksgiving this year will determine our hospitalizations around Christmas. Thanks for being a part of turning this fight around.”

Gov. Hutchinson is expected to update the public Tuesday around 1:30 p.m. with his COVID-19 weekly address.