Governor Hutchinson Update
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced yesterday that there are no Intensive Care Unit beds available in the state of Arkansas for those with COVID-19. Hutchinson said Tuesday marked the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began that no ICU beds were available for COVID-19 patients. Half of the available ICU beds within the state are currently in use for patients suffering from the virus. And as of Monday patients in ICU’s across the state on ventilators reached a new high.
Hutchinson said hospitals in the state were working to open more ICU beds for virus patients Arkansas Department of Health Chief of Staff Renee Mallory said one hospital planned to open additional beds later Tuesday and possibly later in the week. The state on Monday reported it had 22 ICU beds available, but only a handful were equipped to handle COVID-19 patients.
Arkansas ranks fifth in the country for new cases per capita, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University researchers. Arkansas has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country, with 40% of the state’s population fully vaccinated.
Dr. Jose Romero, the state’s health secretary, said the surge in cases is continuing to keep the state’s ICU capacity tight.
In a report issued earlier Tuesday, public health researchers forecast that the state’s death toll from COVID will exceed 7,000 by Aug. 30. On Monday Arkansas has reported 6,704 deaths since the pandemic began. The researchers’ forecast also predicts the number of children hospitalized with the virus will increase by 20% through Aug. 30 and 34% through September 14th.
Gov. Hutchinson also addressed the use of Ivermectin, an anti-parasite used to treat infections caused by roundworms, threadworms, and other parasites in animals and livestock, by those trying to treat COVID-19. He urged the public not to use this medication to treat COVID-19 in humans.
The governor says calls to Arkansas Poison Control Center have increased over the last few weeks due to people taking Ivermectin. And last according to Secretary of Education, Johnny Key, no school districts have had to pivot to online learning yet due to COVID-19.
