LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas health officials on Friday reported new a one-day record of 55 coronavirus deaths that the state’s governor called a “grave milestone.”
“We have once again reached a grave milestone in this pandemic,” Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson said in a statement. “While we may have hope ahead from promising vaccine news, we cannot grow weary over the next few weeks.”
In a statewide televised address Thursday, Hutchinson said the state is seeing a surge in cases after Thanksgiving and suggested Arkansans travel less for the coming Christmas holiday and take rapid tests both before and after travel.
Hutchinson declined to implement any additional restrictions that would keep people from spreading the virus.
The state Department of Health reported 2,770 new confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. As of Friday the total number of deaths blamed on the virus in the state since the pandemic began was 2,875. Arkansas has recorded 181,624 total cases, though the true number of infections in the state is likely higher because many people haven’t been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.
The health department reported 1,059 people hospitalized with the virus.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal.
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