Governor: Arkansas to introduce COVID-19 data on school district level

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Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson was joined by members of his cabinet to update citizens on the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday.

Click below to listen to the entire address:

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Arkansas on Tuesday reported 383 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus and 11 more deaths from the illness it causes.

The Department of Health said at least 50,411 people have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. Of those, 6,847 cases are now active, meaning they do not include those who have died or recovered.

The true number of cases in Arkansas is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.

The Arkansas COVID-19 death toll has risen to 566, but the number of people hospitalized with the illness has decreased by one to 507.

Arkansas Education Secretary Johnny Key also announced that the state will begin releasing numbers of total and active cases within a school district’s population. Key said the numbers will help districts as they prepare to reopen schools later this month.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson has stood by plans to reopen schools for in-person instruction, despite opposition from teachers’ and pediatricians’ groups.