Arkansas Department of Health

A Healthcare Worker Measuring a Patient's Blood Pressure Using a Sphygmomanometer

Arkansas health officials shed light on strategies to prevent strokes

Brandon Tabor

Approximately 30 Arkansans are hospitalized each day due to strokes. Dr. Bala Simon, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the Arkansas Department of Health, sheds light on the risk factors associated with strokes.

Health & Science

COVID cases in Arkansas seem to be following familiar pattern

Michael Hibblen

State Epidemiologist Dr. Mike Cima says the increase in new cases this week is similar to when schools started last year.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announces new maternal healthcare and foster care initiatives in a news conference Tuesday at the State Capitol.

Health & Science

Arkansas governor announces new maternal health, foster care initiatives

Daniel Breen

Gov. Asa Hutchinson says the state is expanding Medicaid access for pregnant people, launching new post-partum home visits, and increasing payments to foster parents.

Arkansas Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Dillaha said since a vaccine for children was approved last week, she has been pleased with the number that have been administered so far.

Health & Science

COVID cases expected to continue rising in Arkansas

David Monteith

The Department of Health says the easily transmissible omicron subvariant BA.5 is responsible for an upward trend in cases and hospitalizations.

This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virus particles, left, and spherical immature particles, right.

Health & Science

First monkeypox case identified in Arkansas

Daniel Breen

Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, director of the Arkansas Department of Health, declined to give specifics of the state's first monkeypox case to avoid potentially identifying the person.

Some 74% of the new COVID cases being diagnosed in Arkansas are among unvaccinated residents, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said.

Arkansas Governor Seeks $4.7M for More Hospital Beds in Omicron Surge

Emily Scott

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.

Lines of cars with people being tested for COVID-19 stream through a garage at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences on July 13, 2020.

COVID cases in Arkansas continue soaring to new record highs

Michael Hibblen

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.

On Tuesday, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 9,400 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered over the last 24 hours. That's an increase from the week prior, but lower than it had been in previous weeks.

Governor: Arkansas Enters 'Period of Greatest Risk' with Omicron Surge

Emily Scott

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.

A visualization of the SARS virus. It is a type of coronavirus and displays the coronavirus' signature crownlike appearance under a microscope.

COVID cases again rising in Arkansas; Omicron variant still an unknown

Michael Tilley

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.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks to reporters at the State Capitol alongside a graph showing both real and projected coronavirus cases in Arkansas.

Arkansas Governor: COVID-19 cases up 900 since last week; Dec. 6 special session still tentative

George Jared

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.