Friday COVID Update: Record 22 deaths in one day; Scam warning; Marijuana card extension expiring

Thanks to Ken Yang for this report:

Arkansas COVID-19 Update for FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020. Please Continue Being Safe and Practicing Social Distancing.

The Numbers:

There are currently 55,652 cases (up 887)

• 59 of 887 in correctional facilities

• 5,854 active cases

• Of the 887 new cases: 80 in Pulaski County, 57 Washington Co, 47 Benton Co, 38 Sebastian Co, 33 Pope Co, 30 Stone Co, 29 Faulkner Co, 25 Lonoke Co, 24 Craighead Co, 23 Crawford Co, 22 Crittenden Co, 21 Sevier Co, 20 Garland, Independence, and Poinsett Co

509 hospitalized (up 10)

663 deaths (up 22)

• 11 from nursing homes

120 on ventilators (up 12)

49,135 recovered (up 677)

6,396 tests yesterday

• Find a testing location at AR.gov/COVID

Governor Hutchinson and Secretary Romero made these announcements today:

1. Unemployment rate has gone down from 8.1% to 7.1% in the past month in Arkansas

••• 3% below the national average

••• 14,000 more Arkansans working

2. Increase of cases have been traced to group gatherings where social distancing and wearing masks is not being followed by everyone

3. 100% testing of the state prison system has been completed

••• 14,650 inmates tested – 5,120 positive (however the positivity rate has been at 4% the past two weeks)

••• 4,728 staff tested – 378 positive

4. For athletes in public schools that have been released from quarantine they must also have approval from their physician to return to play.

5. Medical marijuana card extension expires September 30, cardholder must renew their license

6. ADH Warning About Recent Scams

••• Legitimate case investigators and contact tracers affiliated with ADH will never ask for payment or request any credit card or bank account information

••• Legitimate ADH inspectors carry identification with the agency logo and will always be willing to provide it when asked. They will never ask for money

••• If you want to verify that you have been contacted by and ADH case investigator or contact tracer you may call 1-800-803-7847

Updated graphs/images:

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

• 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

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