Monday COVID Update: Dr. Birx visits; 200 antigen tests delayed; Saline Co. at 8 deaths

Happy 95th Birthday to U.S. Navy, WWII Veteran Charles R. “Bob” King. Thank you for your service.

Thanks to Ken Yang for this report:

Arkansas COVID-19 Update for MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020. Please Continue Being Safe and Practicing Social Distancing.

The Numbers:

There are currently 53,077 cases (up 412 today, up 673 Sunday, up 851 Saturday)

12 out of 412 in correctional facilities
6,341 active cases (38 nursing homes, 994 correctional facilities, 5,309 community)
Of the 412 cases: 54 Pulaski County, 21 Sebastian Co

486 hospitalized (up 8 )

603 deaths (up 4)

120 on ventilators (no change)

46,133 recovered (up 561)

4,093 tests yesterday

• Find a testing location at AR.gov/COVID

Governor Hutchinson and Secretary Romero made these announcements today:

1. Dr. Deborah Birx with the White House Coronavirus Task Force visited Arkansas today.

- Recognized that testing in Arkansas is strong and will continue to increase as we get quicker results from commercial labs.
- Positivity rate is currently trending downwards.

2. Most of the spread in Arkansas is coming from community and familial spread from large get-togethers.

3. 200 Antigen testing kits currently delayed but Arkansas should be getting them soon – currently have enough for 1,200 antigen tests.

4. If you are voting via absentee ballot for the General Election, make sure you request a ballot by October 27th and if possible request and return your ballot in the mail as soon as possible to make sure your ballot is received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day

Updated graphs/images:

• Number of New COVID-19 Cases in Arkansas

• Seven-day Rolling Average of New COVID-19 Cases in Arkansas

• Number of Currently Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

• Number of Active COVID-19 Cases in Arkansas

• Number of Active Community COVID-19 Cases in Arkansas

• Seven-day Rolling Average of Percent Positive COVID-19 Tests in Arkansas