A surge of COVID-19 cases in Arkansas shows no signs of slowing down

Local health professionals warned that the combination of Arkansas' low vaccination rate and the spread of the highly contagious delta variant would result in a third surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.

Reality check: It's happening. Hospitalizations and cases are increasing, with no signs of slowing down.

By the numbers: Hospitals in NWA had a combined total of 58 COVID-19 patients as of Tuesday.

• That's up from 36 a week ago, a 61% increase.

Zoom out: The state had 1,476 new cases and 41 new hospitalizations on Tuesday, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.

• Earlier this month, new single-day cases ranged from the 200s to the 700s, but this is the fourth time in a week the state has reported at least 1,000 new single-day cases.

Zoom in: Benton County accounted for 182 of Tuesday's new cases, while Washington County accounted for 146, according to the health department.

The bottom line: Most of the people in the hospital are unvaccinated. Just under 40% of the state's population 12 and older are fully vaccinated.