LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — The Arkansas National Guard announced Tuesday that soldiers will continue to help the COVID-19 drive-thru testing site at UAMS for seven more days.
Authorities said the extension was requested by UAMS through the Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management because of sustained COVID-19 testing and screening rates.
The 12 Guardsmen, who were initially called to duty at the beginning of the month, were expected to serve until Feb. 4.
Hospital officials said Monday that they are seeing several Arkansans come in for testing due to the omicron variant. They said they have had as many as 1,000 or more tests a day for these last several weeks.
Officials with Baptist Health told KATV in the first 24 days of January, they've administered nearly 29,000 COVID tests.