There were 23 new COVID-19 cases reported in Union County Saturday by the Arkansas Department of Health, bringing the cumulative total of cases identified locally to 2,269. The cases in the county included 1,748 confirmed cases, up 23 from Friday, and 521 probable cases, no change from Friday.
Confirmed cases are determined by positive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, while probable cases are determined by positive antigen tests, per distinctions made by the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Active cases rose higher yet, growing by six cases to reach 285, the highest the county has seen yet; they represented 12.6% of all the cases identified locally and included 193 confirmed cases and 92 probable cases. There were 1,912 Union County residents considered recovered from the virus Saturday, up 17 from Friday.
The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement reported city-level COVID data updated through Dec. 21 this week. Lawson, where fewer than 10 cases have been identified, did not have the number of cases within the city enumerated in order to protect the privacy of those who have contracted the virus.
According to the ACHI, as of Dec. 21, 14 COVID-19 cases had been identified in Calion, representing 3% of the city’s population; 1,478 cases had been identified in El Dorado, including 185 new cases in the last two weeks, representing 5% of the population; 39 cases had been identified in Huttig, including 12 new in the last two weeks, representing 4% of the population; 141 cases had been identified in Junction City, including 13 new in the last two weeks, representing 6% of the population; 19 cases had been identified in Mount Holly, representing 5% of the population; 26 cases had been identified in Norphlet, representing 5% of the population; 125 cases had been identified in Smackover, including 27 new in the last two weeks, representing 6% of the population; and 111 cases had been identified in Strong, including 19 new in the last two weeks, representing 6% of the population.
The ACHI also reported the new known infection rate per 10,000 residents for cities meeting the reporting threshold. The rate was 50 people per 10,000 residents in El Dorado; 110 people for every 10,000 residents in Huttig; 52 people per 10,000 residents in Junction City; 123 people for every 10,000 residents in Smackover; and 108 people per 10,000 residents in Strong.
No new local deaths attributable to COVID-19 were reported Saturday. Seventy-two Union County residents have died as a result of the virus. In the Southwest hospital region of the state, where Union County sits, 159 people were hospitalized due to the virus Saturday, including 66 in intensive care units and 25 on ventilator support.
The ADH reported 191 new negative test results returned from Union County Saturday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 10.7% based on the number of new cases and results reported. In all, 20,104 COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, including 17,835 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 11.3%.
Arkansas added only 702 new COVID-19 cases to its cumulative total, which reached 213,969 Saturday. The cases in the state included 179,640 confirmed cases, up 660 from Friday, and 34,329 probable cases, up 42 from Friday.
Active cases fell by 1,089 Saturday to reach 22,289; they represented 10.4% of all the cases identified in Arkansas and included 16,689 confirmed cases and 5,600 probable cases. There were 188,213 Arkansans considered recovered from the virus Saturday, up 1,788 from Friday.
The deaths of three Arkansans that resulted from COVID-19 were reported Saturday, bringing the state’s death toll to 3,441, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.6%. There were 1,059 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus Saturday, including 364 in ICUs and 173 on ventilator support.
The ADH reported 8,404 new COVID-19 test results returned Saturday, indicating a one-day positivity rate for the state of 8.4% based on the number of new cases and results reported. Since the state began testing for the virus, 2,230,007 results have returned to the ADH, including 2,009,046 negatives, indicating an overall positivity rate for the state of 9.6%.
At 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Johns Hopkins University reported 18,918,206 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Data wasn’t available on the number of U.S. residents considered recovered or the number of active cases in the U.S. There had been 331,689 deaths attributable to the virus reported in the U.S. by Saturday afternoon, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 1.8%.
Johns Hopkins reported 80,229,602 COVID-19 cases worldwide Saturday afternoon. There were 45,338,147 people considered recovered from the virus, leaving 33,134,795 cases — 41.3% — active around the world. There had been 1,755,940 total deaths attributable to the virus reported by Saturday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 2.2%.