COVID Cases continue to rise to more than 1000 cases a day in Arkansas, an under vaccinated state

Arkansas reports more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases for third straight day Arkansas reported more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases for the third straight day on Friday. Jordan Williams TheHill

Arkansas reported more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases for the third straight day on Friday.

The state reported 1,155 new coronavirus cases on Friday, according to data from the Arkansas Department of Health.

The number is greater than the 1,000 new infections reported Wednesday but less than the 1,210 new cases reported Thursday.

The state has seen a surge in coronavirus infections in recent weeks due in part to the rise of the delta strain of the coronavirus first discovered in India and a lagging vaccination rate.

Late last month, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) implored residents to get vaccinated amid the surge.

“The overwhelming majority of COVID patients in the hospital have not been vaccinated. These vaccines are effective, but we need more Arkansans to get the shot,” he said at the time.

Just under 35 percent of the state’s population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to The Associated Press, Hutchinson has begun a series of town halls aimed at increasing vaccinations. ...