ARK COVID-19- The number of Arkansans hospitalized with covid-19 increased by 22 on Sunday to a record high of 576. Arkansas coronavirus hospitalizations were at record levels Tuesday through Friday before dropping by six on Saturday. The total on Saturday is still the third-highest number of coronavirus hospitalizations in Arkansas since the pandemic began. The state’s Covid-19 death count rose Sunday by 17, to 1,569. In an interview with CNN on Sunday morning, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he was concerned about the increase in hospitalizations.
"A large part of it is simply the nature of the virus and if you don't take the right protections it's going to spread," Hutchinson explained. "But what you have to watch is the hospitalizations, it concerns me that you see those rise."
"A large part of it is simply the nature of the virus and if you don't take the right protections it's going to spread," Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson
Hutchinson also stressed the importance of wearing protective face masks when out in public or in social gatherings such as political rallies. According to the Arkansas Department of Health the number of total cases of coronavirus increased by 66, to 7,801 and the number of Arkansas hospital patients on ventilators increased to 99.