Arkansas has the lowest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 residents among a dozen states, Gov. Asa Hutchinson reported Thursday.

The governor, speaking at his daily news conference addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, shared two graphics showing the hospitalization rates per 100,000 residents among the states with universities in the SEC athletic conference.

"I asked them to show me the SEC," Hutchinson said. "These are the SEC states."

Arkansas had 2.6 patients hospitalized per 100,000 residents. The other SEC states include Kentucky (4.7), Texas (5.9), Alabama (6.6), Tennessee (7.1), Missouri (8.7), Oklahoma (10.4), South Carolina (10.7), Florida (11.1), Mississippi (13.8), Georgia (21.6) and Louisiana (43.7).

"We are surrounded by states that have higher levels of cases, particularly hospitalizations," Hutchinson said. "The message here needs to be reinforced ... We need to reduce our recreational and unnecessary out-of-state travel. This is the reason we ask people to quarantine if they come from out of state. We do not want to bring this (virus) in and increase our risk."

Coronavirus shows widespread impact

COVID-19 is the illness caused by the new coronavirus. For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with pre-existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild cases recover in about two weeks, while others could take three to six weeks to get well.

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The outbreak has shuttered schools, forced many to work from home and closed restaurant dining rooms and other businesses.

Baxter County has four confirmed cases, according to an interactive map on the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) website. It previously reported the county having five cases, but as of midday Thursday reported four cases and did not report any residents having recovered from COVID-19 or died from the virus.

A spokesman for the Health Department said that when a numerical change like that occurs, it is usually because the person was determined to actually live in another county.

How many cases are in surrounding counties?

Of the five counties that border Baxter County, seven cases have been confirmed in Stone County, six cases have been confirmed in Searcy County, and one case has been publicly confirmed in Izard County and is reported as having between one and four cases by the ADH. No cases to date have been reported in Marion or Fulton counties.

Hutchinson said Thursday that the state had confirmed 1,094 COVID-19 cases, an increase of 71 compared to the same tie Wednesday. The state updated the total numbers of cases to 1,119 around 3 p.m. Thursday.

State Health Secretary Dr. Nate Smith said that as of midday Thursday, 73 Arkansans were hospitalized with the virus with 31 on ventilators. The 73 hospitalized patients was down three compared to the same time Wednesday and reflected that 24 patients had been discharged from the hospital while 21 additional patients had been admitted.

A total of 253 patients had improved enough to be considered medically recovered, Smith said. The state recorded three more COVID-19 deaths since Wednesday, he said, bringing the number of Arkansans confirmed to have died from the virus to 21.

Hutchinson asked Arkansans to continue to be mindful of the virus over the Easter weekend.

"We do not need to be out with 20 friends, even if the weather is nice," he said. "We need to restrain ourselves. Keep your social distancing, and wear your masks if you cannot socially distance."

What coronavirus precautions should Baxter County residents take?

Locally, Baxter Regional Medical Center has encouraged all residents to continue taking steps to protect themselves and others. Those precautions include:

Listen to and follow the directions of your state and local authorities.

Practice strict personal hygiene, including washing hands regularly for at least 20 seconds at a time.

Wiping down all surfaces in the home often

If you feel sick, stay home. Do not go to work. Contact your medical provider.

If your children are sick, keep them at home. Contact your medical provider.

If someone in your household has tested positive for the coronavirus, keep the entire household at home.

If you are elderly, stay home and away from other people.

If you are a person with a serious underlying health condition — such as a significant heart or lung problem — stay home and away from other people.

If you believe you may have coronavirus, do not go to the hospital or a physician clinic. Stay home, avoid contact with others and call one of several coronavirus hotlines that have been established for people who have questions or feel that they may have symptoms:

Baxter Regional COVID-19 Hotline: (870) 508-7001, available daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

UAMS Health COVID-19 Hotline: 1-800-632-4502

Arkansas Children’s Hospital: 1-800-743-3616. If your child is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, call to speak with an ACH nurse. Nursing staff will be available for questions and phone screenings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Arkansas Department of Health: 1-800-803-7847 or email ADH.CoronaVirus@arkansas.gov during normal business hours (8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.). Call 1-800-554-5738 after normal business hours for urgent calls needing immediate response.

Information about the coronavirus can also be found online at www.baxterregional.org/coronavirus, www.cdc.gov or www.healthy.arkansas.gov.

UAMS HealthNow is also available for free COVID-19 screenings. To access UAMS HealthNow, go to UAMSHealth.com/HealthNow and click on “Begin Screening.” This service is accessible from a smart phone, tablet, laptop or computer with video capabilities. The screening is not a test to determine if a patient has COVID-19 but may result in a recommendation for testing by the Health Department.

The Baxter Regional CARE app is also available if a would-be patient is sick but not exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. Baxter Regional CARE provides video access to urgent care around the clock through a smartphone or tablet. Each visit has a flat rate of $69. For more information, visit baxterregionalcare.com or download the Baxter Regional CARE from Google Play or the Apple App Store.