Arkansas records new hospitalization record for COVID-19

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Arkansas on Monday set a new record for the number of people hospitalized in the state with COVID-19 as its coronavirus outbreak continued.

The state reported that its hospitalizations for COVID-19 increased by 103, its largest single-day increase, to 1,376. The state’s previous record during the pandemic for COVID-19-related hospitalizations was in January when he reported 1,371 patients infected with the virus to the hospital.

The Department of Health reported that there were only eight intensive care unit beds available in the state. There are 509 COVID-19 patients in the state’s intensive care units and 286 on ventilators.

Arkansas ranks third in the country for new cases of the virus per capita, according to figures compiled by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. The state’s cases have skyrocketed in recent weeks, fueled by the delta variant of the virus and the state’s low vaccination rate.

Only about 37% of the state’s population is fully vaccinated against the virus.

The surge in hospitalizations came days after an Arkansas judge temporarily blocked the state from enforcing a law that prevents schools and other government agencies from imposing mask warrants.

The Republican-majority legislature last week refused to change the law despite GOP governor Asa Hutchinson asking them to cancel it for some schools. Hutchinson signed the law in April, but said he regretted the move.

The state reported 20 new deaths from COVID-19 on Monday.

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