Washington County recorded 296 new cases of covid-19 on Friday – the highest number in the state, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.

Benton County reported the third highest number of new cases, 201. Pulaski County was second at 276. Overall, the state reported 2,866 new cases on Friday.

The numbers show an increase from the previous week, when Benton County had 158 new cases and Washington County had 220, according to the Department of Health.

The increase in covid-19 cases has prompted the Northwest Arkansas Council to partner with local businesses and organizations to host vaccination clinics in the area, according to a press release from the organization. Miss Arkansas USA Stephanie Barber appeared at a council-hosted immunization clinic at JB Hunt’s headquarters in Lowell to encourage immunizations and take photos with attendees on Friday.

In Benton County, 57.4% of the population was fully or partially vaccinated against covid-19 on Friday, according to the Department of Health. The numbers were slightly higher in Washington County, where 58.9% were fully or partially vaccinated. In Sebastian County, 49.3% were fully or partially vaccinated.

The number of hospitalizations in northwest Arkansas continued to exceed the peak in January this week, according to Martine Pollard, spokeswoman for Mercy who released a joint statement with the largest healthcare providers in health of the region.

158 patients with covid were being treated in hospitals in the region on Friday, up from 173 on Aug. 11, she said.

A total of 131 patients were in intensive care units and 79 were on ventilators as of Friday; those numbers included both covid-19 patients and patients with other medical needs, she said. The records in these categories are 139 patients in intensive care, set on August 20, and 81 on ventilators, set on August 17.

Fifty-eight covid-19 patients were hospitalized at Baptist Health-Fort Smith on Friday, up from 73 a week earlier. However, the hospital has seen an increase in the number of patients in covid intensive care units – from 26 last week to 31 Friday – and the number of ventilators, from seven to 18, according to Kim Miller, president of the Baptist area. Health. At Baptist Health-Van Buren, 27 patients were hospitalized, up from 10 a week earlier, and none were on a ventilator, she said.

At Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith, 55 patients were hospitalized with covid-19 on Friday and 15 were in intensive care, spokeswoman Mardi Taylor said. The hospital’s numbers were virtually the same as they were a week earlier.

Statewide, 1,324 patients were hospitalized with covid-19 on Friday, according to Katie White, spokeswoman for the Arkansas Department of Health. A total of 507 patients were in intensive care and 348 were on ventilators. Only 24 intensive care beds were available in the state, she said.

Washington County reported 25 new covid-related deaths this week for a total of 55 in August, according to Janell Smith, assistant coroner. The county reported 32 covid-related deaths in July.

Benton County recorded 21 deaths this week for a total of 73 in August and 219 in 2021, Coronor Daniel Oxford said.

Eleven new covid-related deaths were reported in Sebastian County this week, for a total of 43 in August and 67 since July 1, Coroner Kenneth Hobbs said. Those who died were between 42 and 85 years old. Only one of the deceased resided in Sebastian County; the rest came from the surrounding area for treatment at hospitals in Fort Smith, he said.

The top three school districts in the state in terms of active covid-19 cases were all districts in northwest Arkansas, according to the state’s latest educational institutions report Thursday.

Bentonville, the state’s third largest district, led active cases with 125 cases, followed closely by Springdale, the state’s largest district, with 124 cases. Rogers has reported 114 active cases.

The Cabot School District was fourth with 107 cases and Fort Smith was fifth with 104, according to the Department of Health.