As the state prepares for a potential surge of coronavirus cases stemming from gatherings over the Labor Day weekend, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Defense is sending a 20-person military medical crew to the UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock to help expand the state's hospital capacity.
Hutchinson made the announcement Wednesday as the numbers of covid-19 patients in the state's hospitals, on ventilators and in intensive care all fell. The numbers had all risen a day earlier.
The state's count of cases rose by 2,181, the second consecutive daily increase that was significantly smaller than the one a week earlier.
The state's death toll from the virus, as tracked by the Arkansas Department of Health, rose by 34, to 7,142.
Hutchinson said the medical team, comprising 14 nurses, four physicians and two respiratory therapists, is expected to arrive at UAMS on Thursday.
"UAMS is receiving patients from across the state, and it costs precious time if they have to be diverted to another hospital, that we might have an empty bed in, and so just by creating additional capacity at UAMS, [it] should be really helpful to our outlying areas that are bringing patients in and normally served by UAMS," Hutchinson said.
The number of patients hospitalized with covid-19 in Arkansas fell Wednesday by 19, to 1,209, its lowest level since Aug. 1.
The number who were on ventilators fell by one, to 320.
The number who were in intensive care fell by 16, to 497, dropping below 500 for the first time since Aug. 8.
Recoveries from the coronavirus outpaced new cases, lowering the total number of active cases to 19,500. It was the lowest total since state officials reported 19,499 cases on Aug. 3.
More details in Thursday's Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
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