Arkansas Department of Health

Arkansas continues to see skyrocketing COVID hospitalizations as the omicron variant surge lingers. To help support hospitals that are close to capacity, the governor is calling for funds to purchase more medical and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds. Comments from Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Secretary of Health José Romero.

The Department of Health reported 7,787 new infections Thursday, which is another record. Hospitalizations grew by 73, which Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Dillaha said has hospitals struggling.

As the Omicron variant causes COVID-19 cases to skyrocket in Arkansas and elsewhere, state officials are pleading with residents to take health precautions this month.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday (Nov. 30) there is not yet enough data “to make definitive decisions” about how to react to the COVID-19 Omicron variant but he is concerned with recent trends showing more COVID cases and hospitalizations in the state.

Infection rates and deaths for COVID-19 are on the rise and state government officials are imploring unvaccinated citizens to get a vaccine. Gov. Asa Hutchinson said during a press conference at the State Capitol on Tuesday (Nov. 23) the number of cases since last week is up about 900 and those hospitalized have increased by 69.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Monday that all fully vaccinated adults who have waited the recommended time can get a booster shot. He also voiced concerns about unaccompanied migrant children being placed in the state.

Despite delays in getting a vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11 distributed, Dr. Jennifer Dillaha with the Department of Health says the process is going well.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson received his Pfizer booster shot Tuesday (Sept. 28) moments before he held his weekly COVID-19 pandemic press conference. The governor, his wife and Arkansas Secretary of Health Dr. Jose Romero got their boosters shot on live television to encourage others to get vaccinated, the governor said.

Several inmates at a northwest Arkansas jail said they weren't told a medication they were given to treat COVID-19 was actually an anti-parasite drug that federal health officials have warned should not be used to treat the coronavirus.

All intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients in Arkansas are full, with those people making up roughly half of all ICU patients in the state. That’s according to Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who said in his weekly coronavirus briefing Tuesday the state’s hospital capacity is at its lowest point since the pandemic began.