The count of coronavirus cases in Arkansas rose by 450 on Saturday, including a record 400 community cases. The overall case count increased to 9,101, while the death toll from the virus rose by two, to 154.
The increase ended a week in which the state’s count of cases grew by more than 200 per day except one. Saturday, the state reported the third day during the week in which more than 350 cases were added.
The previous record for a one-day increase in community cases was Tuesday, when the number of cases increased by 374.
After a slight decrease on Friday, the average number of cases added each day over a rolling 7 day period increased Saturday by 30, to 298.
Not counting infections from prison inmates, the average number added each day increased by 24, to 289.
Positive test results from prison inmates often show up in the state’s overall count several days after the tests are performed, after information from laboratory reports is entered into a state database.
50 cases that were added to the state total were from the Federal Correctional Complex in Forrest City on Saturday.
“They did some additional testing among inmates who had previously tested negative,” Dillaha said.
The state Department of Health previously reported that 633 inmates and 18 staff members at the complex had tested positive.
The number of patients hospitalized statewide with covid-19 increased by seven, to 154.
Thirty-six patients were on ventilators Saturday , up from 35 on Friday.