June 19, 2020 4:09pm -- Cases of COVID-19 infection have spiked again in Arkansas, the second highest daily number, according to the Arkansas Department of Health, totalling 703.
At Friday’s daily coronavirus press briefing in Little Rock, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson characterized the spike as the largest daily case count of community transmission since the pandemic was declared. To date 14,631 total cases have been documented in the state.
Arkansas Secretary of Health, Dr. Nate Smith, said a pattern is now emerging linking recent community case spikes to weekend church and social gatherings where transmission is likely taking place among unprotected participants. The highest new case counts are in Washington County, 136 and Benton County, 112. Total hospitalizations number 231, with 214 COVID-19 deaths. Arkansas has set a goal of conducting 100,000 tests in June, which is nearly fulfilled. The overall testing positivity rate stands at 6.5 percent.
Smith says U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention staff are presently in Northwest Arkansas mapping transmission networks to interrupt chains of transmission, continuing through the end of June. Hutchinson announced new mask guidance, posted on the Arkansas Department of Health website, asking the public to wear masks when social distancing indoors and outdoors is not possible, to help reduce disease transmission.
Hutchinson also announced that the CARES Act Steering Committee has approved $12,127,200 to be distributed to direct care emergency medical service workers, which number 5,053 licensed EMTS and paramedics in Arkansas. The cash bonuses will be based on number of hours worked April 5th through May 30th. The governor thanked emergency workers for placing themselves at risk to help Arkansans.
Hutchinson announced Arkansas’s May unemployment rate has declined by 1.3 percent, lowering the aggregate rate to 9.5 percent, almost 4 points lower than the national average unemployment rate.
To watch the full briefing, click here.
