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The number of Arkansas who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus has surpassed 1 million, as Arkansas remains one of the most vaccine-hesitant states, according to numbers released Monday by the Arkansas Department of Health. So far, 1,002,802 Arkansans have been fully vaccinated, accounting for 39.2 % percent of the population 12 and older. A further 225,297 Arkansans have been partially immunized against covid-19, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. (Earley, 7/5)

Arkansas on Monday reported 1,246 new coronavirus cases and 23 more hospitalizations from the past three days as Gov. Asa Hutchinson warned that the state could face a “tough week” in the virus’ growth. The Department of Health said the biggest jump over the weekend came on Saturday when the state added 764 new cases. The department recently stopped reporting daily COVID-19 numbers on weekends, releasing the figures on Monday instead. (7/5)

COVID-19 vaccination rates for Oklahoma youth have fallen below health officials’ expectations. With a little over a month left before the next school year, the Oklahoma State Department of Health is “not satisfied” with the number of vaccinated adolescents and teenagers, said Keith Reed, deputy health commissioner. “It’s definitely been lower than our expectations,” he said. “We need many more vaccinated in order to stop transmission among this group, especially when they gather back together in school settings.” (Martinez-Keel, 7/5)

Lawmakers are torn over reports that U.S. Army members may soon be required to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said in a Twitter post that he has heard from military members who say they intend to leave the service if they are forced to receive the vaccines. Massie introduced legislation in June that would prohibit any requirement that service members receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The bill currently has 23 cosponsors, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Andy Biggs, R-Ariz. (De Lea, 7/5)

A Reston-based IT company is giving its employees a chance to win a year’s pay for the price of a coronavirus vaccine. Leidos Inc., a government contractor with a global workforce of 40,000, has set aside $1 million to reward 10 randomly selected workers through its vaccine lottery. The company aims to ramp up its inoculation rates, which like the rest of the country have slowed down. (Gregg, 7/5)

For many, the three-day weekend came as an occasion to do things they had not done for more than a year. Tourists arrived, while New Yorkers themselves crammed into airports, highways and sought-after getaway spots. Some parks were empty and street parking was plentiful. But for those who stayed and gathered, nothing beat the sheer cathartic joy of being able to hug friends or elders again. (Leland, 7/5)