LOWER THAN EXPECTED - Arkansas health officials say the number of coronavirus cases in the state has risen to 837 and COVID-19 deaths increased to 16. Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the number of cases now includes 14 people at a federal prison in Forrest City. He also explained that Arkansas’ COVID-19 case numbers are well below than what earlier projections predicted.
"Today under the projections we were supposed to be at 2, 000 cases," Hutchinson explained. "So instead of 2,000 cases we have 837 cases."
Hutchinson credits mitigation measures such as travel restrictions and social distancing as helping to keep rates low. He also said he will begin wearing a mask in public as recently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and encouraged others to do the same.
"I will be complying with that directive,"Hutchinson explained."I will be utilizing a mask whenever it's appropriate and social distancing does not work."
The most Covid-19 cases in Arkansas are from the 45 to 64 age group. The vast majority of those who contract Covid-19 recover from the illness.
For more information: Click ARKANSAS COVID-19