LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson provided today's update on Arkansas's COVID-19 response.

In its Friday update, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 1,707 new cases; 17,326 active cases; 951 hospitalized, which is down 45 from Thursday; 144 on ventilators, which is up 1 from Thursday; deaths added today, 47, for a total of 4,831; a total of 292,563 cases; 217,633 recoveries; PCR tests, 13,027; antigen tests, 3,565.

The Health Department reported that the top counties for new cases are Pulaski, 271; Benton, 171; Washington, 147; Sebastian, 89; and Faulkner, 74.

Governor Hutchinson released the following statement on today’s COVID-19 numbers:

"Today we saw a decrease of over 450 new cases from this time last week. We have also distributed over 84,000 doses of vaccine in the past week. With a decline in hospitalizations, we remind ourselves that watching our distance and wearing a mask does make a difference. Please keep the guidelines in mind as we go into the weekend.”

Here are today's COVID-19 statewide numbers:

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Total Cumulative Cases: 2,341
Confirmed Cases: 1,658
Probable Cases: 683
Total Active Cases: 42
Active Confirmed Cases: 26
Active Probable Cases: 16

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Total Cumulative Cases: 1,348
Confirmed Cases: 920
Probable Cases: 428
Total Active Cases: 79
Active Confirmed Cases: 37
Active Probable Cases: 42

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Total Cumulative Cases: 1,031
Confirmed Cases: 807
Probable Cases: 224
Total Active Cases: 42
Active Confirmed Cases: 32
Active Probable Cases: 10

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Total Cumulative Cases: 1,652
Confirmed Cases: 1,438
Probable Cases: 214
Total Active Cases: 83
Active Confirmed Cases: 77
Active Probable Cases: 6

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Total Cumulative Cases: 877
Confirmed Cases: 682
Probable Cases: 195
Total Active Cases: 21
Active Confirmed Cases: 17
Active Probable Cases: 4