Infection rates in most age groups are declining in Arkansas with the 65-and-older group being flat. But Arkansas Secretary of Health Dr. Jose Romero on Tuesday said COVID-19 continues to stress the healthcare system and urged everyone to get vaccinated, especially children.

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) on Tuesday reported 7,943 new known cases in the previous 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total to 749,824, or roughly 25% of the state’s population.

Patients on ventilators rose by 18 to 233, and deaths rose by 24 to 9,556. Available ICU beds totaled 20 in Tuesday’s report, down from 32 on Monday, according to the ADH report.

As he has in previous comments, Romero said infections among children during the Omicron surge have “exceeded the high water mark” for pediatric infections and he expects the number to go higher.

See the full article from KUAR here.