Hempstead and Pike counties in Southwest Arkansas have their first confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the Arkansas Health Department.
The Arkansas Health Department notified county officials about noon Tuesday and confirmed the case in Pike County. The case was originally reported to be in neighboring Howard County, said Howard County Judge Kevin Smith.
"I was called about 8 a.m. by the health department saying we had our first confirmed case. But at 12 p.m. they called back and said it was a mile outside the county in Pike County. So for the moment, we are at zero," Smith said.
Hempstead County was also added to the list of positive cases Tuesday afternoon.
Pike County includes the towns of Murfreesboro, Delight and Glenwood. Hempstead County includes Hope and Fulton
As of Tuesday afternoon, Arkansas had 218 confirmed cases. Gov. Asa Hutchinson also confirmed two Arkansans had died from the virus. One was a 91-year-old man in Conway.