Arkansas' COVID-19 cases on the rise again

There's now an average of more than 105,000 new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. each day, according to the New York Times.

• That's the most since February at the end of the Omicron wave.

Yes, but: The two-week change in cases per 100,000 residents has declined in six states.

Zoom in: Active cases are still on the rise in Arkansas, albeit at a slower rate than neighboring Missouri and Louisiana.

By the numbers: The Arkansas Department of Health reported 3,253 active cases Tuesday, up 726 compared to the week before — a 29% increase in raw case numbers.

• Benton County had 282 active cases, and Washington County had 369 as of Tuesday, according to the department.
• Hospitalizations due to COVID were above 70 on Monday for the first time in more than a month, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.

Threat level: The rise in cases comes just before Memorial Day weekend, when many people travel or gather for the unofficial start of summer.

• Doctors recommend that people continue to wear masks in large gatherings, especially indoors.
• Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, encouraged those living in communities designated yellow or orange to consider wearing masks again in indoor public spaces.
• All of Arkansas is currently rated green.

Of note: About 56% of Arkansans over age 5 are fully vaccinated.

💭 Our thought bubble: Unfortunately, Washington, D.C., had the largest two-week change in cases, and both Alex and Worth were there last week. Eek!

Go deeper: Axios' COVID-19 dashboard