The headlines aren't nearly so frightening these days, as this state, like the rest of the United States, feels its way toward a post-pandemic "normal."
It's not that the deadly pandemic is over. The coronavirus still grips much of the world -- and lingers in the U.S.
For months, maybe years, the coronavirus will be with us, still sickening people and taking lives. The grim total for Arkansas as of Monday is 5,752 lost lives.
Now, at least, fewer Arkansans are getting sick and needing hospitalization than in the days when hospitals worried about meeting the demand for beds and staff.
The number of people infected fluctuates and has been rising lately, but drug protocols and treatment strategies have thankfully become increasingly more successful.
The big difference-maker, however, has been the increased availability of safe, effective vaccines. It is much easier now to get vaccinated. Shots are even available on a walk-up basis at Walmart, Sam's Club and CVS locations in the state.
Herd immunity remains the goal but is elusive with so many people hesitant to be immunized.
Plenty of us who have gotten the shots can attest to the relief that comes with being able to get out of the house, knowing the vaccine will protect us as we escape confinement.
Visits to restaurants or sporting events, any such once-frequent outings, are possible again. We can freely see family and friends and mingle safely in small crowds.
Many of us are still wearing masks, washing hands and keeping a distance from others, too. Even those precautions will go in time, especially as more people get vaccinated, further limiting the spread of the virus or its variants.
This week, U.S. regulators agreed to allow the Pfizer vaccine's use for children as young as 12. The cutoff age had been 16. Shots for them should actually be available before week's end, allowing many school-age children to be vaccinated before school resumes in the fall.
The decision coincidentally came as Arkansas, like several other states, has experienced fall-off in its vaccination rate.
Just as Arkansas had those who refused even to wear a mask, at least until mandated, the state has its share of people who are reluctant to get vaccinated, even adamant that they won't be.
The response here slowed so much that Arkansas has twice turned down all or part of its weekly allocation of doses from the federal government. The inventory of doses has backed up, leaving officials to scramble to use doses the state already has before they expire.
So far, more than 1.8 million doses have been given to Arkansans, with 810,000-plus of our people considered to have been fully immunized. Another 251,000 have been partially immunized.
The state has received many more doses, more than 2.5 million doses to date.
President Joe Biden's administration has told states that vaccine doses they choose not to order will be made available to other states.
That's certainly preferable to letting any of the vaccine expire.
In the meantime, Arkansas will encourage more people to be immunized, offering shots at "pop-up clinics" at ballparks, festivals, rodeos and other events over the summer.
Last week, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the drop in immunizations needs to stop. He set a goal of getting at least one dose in 50 percent of eligible Arkansans within the next 90 days.
That's not nearly as ambitious as President Biden's goal to deliver at least one dose to 70 percent of adult Americans by the 4th of July.
One fact is certain. Doses will go where the interest is stronger.
Public officials and sports figures, local doctors and pharmacists, all manner of popular spokespersons will be trying to pump up interest here and all over the country.
Hopefully, they can persuade those who are still hesitant or hard-to-reach to get immunized.
The prime argument not to risk exposure to the virus? If you won't do it for yourself, do it for those you love.