State sees 1,476 new covid cases, largest 1-day increase in 5 months

Arkansas' count of coronavirus cases rose Tuesday by 1,476 - the largest one-day increase in new cases in more than five months - while the number of patients hospitalized in the state with the virus topped 600 for the first time since Feb. 20.

The state also reported an additional 15 covid-19 deaths, the most in a day since March 30, bringing the state's toll to 5,970.

"Today’s report of 41 new hospitalizations should be of concern to unvaccinated Arkansans," Gov. Asa Hutchinson said in a tweet.

"98.3% of those hospitalized since January were not vaccinated."

The Republican governor spoke to residents in Blytheville at noon on Tuesday and was scheduled to speak at the Forrest City Civic Center at 6 p.m. as part of a series of meetings designed to encourage residents to get vaccinated.

Read more: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/jul/13/state-sees-1476-new-covid-cases-largest-1-day-incr/