At Thursday’s COVID-19 response briefing, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced Arkansas reported 806 new coronavirus cases in the last 24-hour monitoring period, as well as 36 additional hospitalizations bringing the state to another record high of 394 with 82 people on ventilators.

A change was also made to the upcoming school year. The date for K-12 students to return to school in Arkansas has been pushed back as the state sees its second-highest daily increase in new coronavirus cases. Governor Hutchinson announced that the start of the 2020-2021 school year will be delayed from August 13 to the week of August 24, but no later than August 26, to make sure school districts have additional time to plan and prepare for a blended learning environment.