FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas — Arkansas has seen a record number of confirmed community cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.
Of the 261 new cases, Northwest Arkansas has seen the largest one day increase of COVID-19 cases in the state.
“It’s a sequential movement almost across the state with many different isolated geographic areas of a large number of cases," Governor Asa Hutchinson said.
Benton and Washington Counties have the highest number of new cases in the state. Benton County has 85 new cases while Washington County has 25 new cases.
Arkansas Health Secretary Dr. Nate Smith said 70% of Benton County's new cases are in Rogers and 80% of Washington County's new cases are in Springdale.
“This is the largest single-day increase in community cases,” Dr. Smith said.
Dr. Smith said of the new cases a majority of them are from the Latino community.
The average age of new cases in Benton County is 40 years old and 38 years old in Washington County.
Dr. Nate Smith says a majority of those we tested positive for COVID-19 in the state have been asymptomatic. In the last two weeks, 74% of the people tested have had no symptoms.
“Overall of our total 6,538 of the cases half of them reported no symptoms at the time they were tested,” Dr. Smith said.
With restrictions being lifted, the governor says there is still some concern for the safety and well-being of all Arkansans.
“We have to protect ourselves and we have to protect others and we simply have to plow through this pandemic," Gov. Hutchinson said. "Keeping going and keep being careful and protect our loved ones.”
The governor says in the midst of this second wave of cases, we must remain vigilant.
According to Governor Asa Hutchinson, the following are the newest numbers in the state:
- 6,538 positive cases (up 261)
- 1,830 active cases
- 4,583 recoveries
- 104 hospitalizations (down 4)
- 27 on ventilators (up 5)
- 125 deaths (up 5)
61,000 COVID-19 tests have been given in the month of May in Arkansas so far.
Regarding the economic impact of COVID-19, Steuart Walton, head of the state's Economic Recovery Task Force released the following slide during the governor's daily press conference:
