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

In its Thursday update, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 264 new cases; 2,734 active cases; 245 hospitalized, which is down 15 from Wednesday; 47 on ventilators, which is down 7 from Wednesday; deaths added today, 8, for a total of 5,515; a total of 328,045 cases; 251,506 recoveries; PCR tests, 7,574; antigen tests, 1,165.

The Health Department reported that the top counties for new cases are: Washington, 32; Benton, 31; Pulaski, 27; Polk, 22; and Faulkner, 12.

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

“Vaccinations are making a huge difference in Arkansas. As the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continues to decrease, let's double down on our efforts to get vaccinated if you are in priorities 1-A, 1-B, or 1-C.”

Here are today's statewide COVID-19 numbers: