LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas reported its second-highest increase in confirmed coronavirus cases on Thursday as a state senator was hospitalized after testing positive for the virus.
The Department of Health said at least 36,259 people have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, an increase of 1,013 confirmed cases since Wednesday. The department said 7,009 of those cases are active, meaning they don't include people who have died or recovered.
All but five of the new cases came from non-incarcerated people, marking the state's biggest one-day jump in cases among people outside the prison system.
"I'm frustrated by it," Gov. Asa Hutchinson told reporters. Hutchinson, however, said part of the increase came from a lag in recording case results over the past two
days.
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.
Six more people in the state died from COVID-19, bringing the state's total fatalities to 386. The number of people hospitalized rose by six to 480.
Sen. Jason Rapert said in a statement provided by the Senate that he was in the hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia and testing positive for the COVID-19 virus. Rapert was responding well to treatment.