Arkansas reports another 1-day record in new coronavirus cases

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas on Tuesday marked another one-day record for new coronavirus cases, and the governor said plans to further loosen restrictions on businesses remained on hold because of the spike.

The Health Department said at least 7,818 people tested positive for the virus, an increase of 375 over the 7,443 reported Monday. All but one of the cases were in the community, and the department said it marked the biggest one-day increase in cases among non-incarcerated people.

The true number is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick. The number of people in the state who were reported to have died from covid-19, the illness caused by the virus, reached 136.

Officials said 132 people are hospitalized, a new high for the state.

The increases follow moves by the state to allow businesses that have closed because of the pandemic to reopen but with capacity limits and other restrictions. Arkansas did not have a stay-at-home order in place but had other restrictions Gov. Asa Hutchinson has been rolling back in recent weeks.

Hutchinson said moving the state into “phase 2,” where restrictions can be further loosened, is on pause for now.