The state of Arkansas has 130 new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the total number to 4,366. Of that number, 928 cases are considered active with 522 being in the community, 305 in correctional facilities and 101 in nursing homes. There have been 3,340 recoveries reported.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson reported at his COVID-19 press conference that 113 of the new cases today are from the community. He noted the following counties as those with the most cases yesterday: Union County had 21, Craighead County had 14, Pulaski County had 13, Jefferson County had 11 and Sharp County had 10.
“The rest were scattered around the state in small numbers. So you can, they aren’t all congregated in one with 70 cases. They are scattered in different counties across the state,” Hutchinson said.
There are five additional hospitalizations, bringing the total to 69 with 10 individuals on a ventilator. This is the second day to see an increase in community cases and hospitalizations. There are currently 98 deaths.
Yesterday (May 13), 1,991 COVID-19 tests were conducted with a 2.6 percent positivity rate. As the state works towards its goal of 60,000 tests in the month of May, Hutchinson announced that Walmart will increase its testing sites in Arkansas. Currently, there are testing sites in Little Rock, Bentonville and Fort Smith. Testing sites will be set up in West Memphis, Jonesboro, Hot Springs and Texarkana.
“This enhances our radar system in Arkansas to give us information that we need,” he said.
Secretary of Health Dr. Nate Smith provided an update in terms of testing at the Randall Williams Correctional Facility in Pine Bluff. The Arkansas Department of Health has completed testing in the building with the positive case, but has expanded testing to other buildings with the unit.
Smith also noted a free resource available for providers in the state to decontaminate N95 masks. He visited the state’s only PPE Decontamination Unit at Goodwill Industries of Arkansas earlier today with the director of Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, A.J. Gary.
“This is using the Batelle processing system. They use aerosolized, or gaseous, hydrogen peroxide to decontaminate N95 masks,” Smith said. “That’s a resource that is available to all providers in the state and is free of cost. It’s a great system. These N95 masks can be decontaminated and reused up to 20 times.”
Providers interested in the resource should contact Goodwill and set up a free contract to send in masks via a prepaid Fedex shipment. Masks will be returned within 24 to 72 hours.
READ MORE: Hutchinson – ‘Not in a Position to Predict’ When Phase II Reopening Will Begin