Arkansas COVID-19

The Arkansas Department of Human Services has begun disenrolling thousands of Medicaid recipients for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Act 1002 of 2021 prohibits government entities in Arkansas from requiring individuals to wear face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former Gov. Asa Hutchinson supported blockage of a law he signed banning government mask mandates.

In a letter to President Joe Biden, 25 governors said it's time to end the federal public health emergency that has been in place since start of the pandemic.

As of Thursday, the Department of Health had reported 53 deaths so far this week, though most occurred during previous months.

Dr. Cam Patterson says the low number of patients has allowed the hospital to return to normal operations, but warns more bumps in cases are likely.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Mike Cima says the increase in new cases this week is similar to when schools started last year.

The Department of Health said Monday recoveries continue outpacing new infections, with the number of active cases dropping to 11,044.

The Department of Health says the easily transmissible omicron subvariant BA.5 is responsible for an upward trend in cases and hospitalizations.

The new channel in eastern Arkansas is part of a $6.4 million project to eventually reach nearly the entire state.