KUAR:
While the number of deaths from COVID-19 in Arkansas remained high, the state Department of Health reported Thursday that the number of hospitalizations dropped below 1,000 for the first time in nearly six weeks. Active cases also continued making a sharp decline.
During his weekly press conference, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced 45 additional deaths had occurred, which brought the total since the start of the pandemic to 10,235. 80% of the deaths involved people who had not been vaccinated.
Hospitalizations in the state dropped by 73 since Wednesday to 931, marking the first time since Jan. 8 that the number of people being treated fell below 1,000. With the state dropping below that threshold, Hutchinson said he would no longer release a daily COVID-19 graphic on his Twitter account, though the raw data would still be available through the Department of Health’s website.