Sept. 9, 2020 2:00 p.m. — During today's daily COVID-19 briefing, Gov. Asa Hutchinson reported the state has 66,406 positive cases, an increase of 385 from yesterday. Hospitalizations increased by 2 for a total of 411. Arkansas has 928 deaths related to the coronavirus, an increase of 11. Health Secretary Dr. Jose Romero said 7 of the deaths were in nursing nomes and there were two small clusters in Beebe and El Dorado.
In the last 24 hours, 5,208 tests were conducted. That's 54 more than the day prior. Officials report 114 of 699 antigen tests conducted yesterday were positive resultig in a 15.4 percent positivity rate. Gov. Hutchinson announced the Arkansas Department of Health is partnering with Baptist Health to increase the public lab's testing capacity by 20 percent. Fifty percent of tests sent to the lab will be referred to Baptist Health who will provide the personnel to operate a testing machine 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Dr. Romero said 660 more Arkansans have recovered for a total of 59,920. There are 82 patients on ventilators, a decrease of 2. The top 5 counties with the most new cases are Washington County with 42, Craighead with 21, Pulaski County with 31, Benton County with 24 and Jefferson County with 23.
You can watch the entire daily briefing here.