Over 200 more virus infections in Arkansas; state deaths up 6 to 142

FILE — Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks to reporters during his daily briefing at the Capitol in Little Rock in this May 15 file photo.
(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/John Sykes Jr.)
FILE — Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks to reporters during his daily briefing at the Capitol in Little Rock in this May 15 file photo. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/John Sykes Jr.)

The state recorded 249 new cases of covid-19 Wednesday, including 245 among the state’s nonincarcerated population, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. The figure is lower than the daily record set a day earlier but still one of the highest single-day increases to date.

Hospitalizations are also at their highest level yet, 138, Department of Health Secretary Dr. Nate Smith said, and have increased for the past four days.

Six more Arkansans also died of the virus bringing the toll to 142.

Of the total 8,067 cases, 2,208 remain active.

Of the active cases, 102 are in nursing homes, 55 are in correctional facilities and 2,051 are in the general population.

The counties producing the largest number of new positive cases continued to be the same as recent days. Washington County saw 28, Benton County saw 20 and Sevier County saw 23.

Pulaski County, which has recently been among the top counties for new cases but usually below those in Northwest Arkansas, saw the highest number of new cases Wednesday, with 33.

EARLIER: Gov. Asa Hutchinson and state health officials provided an update on Arkansas' covid-19 response at 1:30 p.m.

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