LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas’ coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are continuing to climb.
The state department of health on Wednesday reported 1,703 new coronavirus cases. The number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the state increased by 39 to 1,064.
The state’s cases and hospitalizations have skyrocketed in recent weeks because of the Delta variant and Arkansas’ low vaccination rate.
Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson planned a news conference Thursday as he and lawmakers face growing calls to lift the state’s ban on mask mandates in public schools. Hutchinson has said a special session to address the issue is an option.
New CDC guidelines set off rush to reimpose mask mandates
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says he plans to talk with legislative leaders about the growing calls to allow schools to require face masks as the state’s COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations continued to grow. Hutchinson is holding a news conference at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday that will likely address the issue.
New guidance from the federal government set off a cascade of mask rules across the nation as cities, states, schools, and businesses raced to bring back mandates.
Others pushed back against the guidelines at a time when Americans are exhausted and confused over constantly shifting pandemic measures. Nevada and Kansas City, Missouri, were among the locations that moved swiftly to re-impose indoor mask mandates Wednesday, a day after the announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Governors in Pennsylvania and South Carolina joined others who said they would not revert back to stricter mask mandates.
For more COVID-19 information from the Arkansas Department of Health, click here.
For information from local physicians about COVID-19 vaccines, click here.
If you have yet to be immunized against COVID-19, White River Now urges you to talk to your trusted local physician about the COVID-19 vaccine. Get up-to-date local and regional news along with the latest sports and weather every weekday morning by listening to Gary B. on Ozark Newsline, broadcast from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5. Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
