Governor Hutchinson 1/26/21 COVID Press Conference
> Unemployment rate has dropped from 6.3 in November to 4.2% in December. In March it was 5%, then all the way up to 10.8%.
> We are making progress in vaccine distribution. According to the NY Times, of the 50% Arkansas is ranked #10 in terms of people vaccinated.
> Last week when we received our supply, 92% of the vaccine supplied was into the arms of Arkansans within 48 hours. We are somewhat throttled by the supply. Working on increasing the supply.
> Up 2,485 total cases in the last 24 hours
> Received the results of 5,530 PCR tests and 4,959 antigen tests
> An increase of 40 deaths to 4,690 Arkansans who have died from COVID-19
> Top counties: Pulaski 383, Benton 224, Washington 199, Sebastian 193, Garland 127
> Up 11 to 1,095 hospitalized
> Received 459,575 doses to date, given 235,120 doses to date
> Currently in phase 1-B for Arkansans aged 70 or older, education workers including K-12, childcare, higher education
> We are quite a bit lower with the federal program through CVS/Walgreens.
> Vaccines are 94% or 95% effective against COVID. Those small percent who did contract COVID with the vaccine did not have severe disease.
> No steps were skipped with the development and safety testing of the vaccine.
>Even if you are vaccinated, continue to wear your mask and social distance.