The Arkansas Department of Health reported 20 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in Union County Tuesday, representing the second-largest one-day increase in cases the county has seen yet. The cumulative number of cases in the county was 333 Tuesday.
Of those, 256 were considered recovered Tuesday, up four from Monday. There were 63 active COVID-19 cases in the county Tuesday, up 16 from Tuesday. Active cases represent almost a fifth of the cumulative number of cases that have been identified locally at 18.91%.
The only other time the county’s cumulative number of cases has increased by 20 or more in one day was May 14, when 21 cases were added to the total. On May 21, the county’s cases increased by 19.
There were no changes reported Tuesday in any of the congregate living facilities in Union County where COVID-19 cases have been identified. Those include Courtyard Healthcare and Rehabilitation, where one resident case remains active; Advanced Health and Rehab of Union County, where two worker cases remain active; Timberlane Health and Rehab, where two worker cases remain active; and Community Living Arrangements, where one worker case remains active.
Active cases within the four local congregate living settings where the virus has been identified comprise only 9.52% of the active cases in the county. No cases have been reported in the Union County Jail, a correctional facility which would also be considered a congregate living setting by the ADH, indicating that the remaining 90.48% of active cases (57) are in the community.
No new local deaths attributable to COVID-19 were reported Tuesday. Fourteen Union County residents have died as a result of the virus in all.
The ADH reported 75 new negative test results returned from Union County Tuesday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 21.05%. In all, 3,952 total COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, with 3,619 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 9.2%.
Arkansas’ number of confirmed cases had grown by 728 by Tuesday, bringing the cumulative number of cases the state’s seen to 34,655. Of those, 27,283 were considered recovered, an increase of 886 from Tuesday. Active cases correspondingly dropped by 169 to reach 6,998, which represent 20.18% of the state’s cumulative number of cases.
Dr. Jose Romero, interim ADH Secretary, announced 11 Arkansans’ deaths related to COVID-19 Tuesday. He noted that six died before the 24-hour period preceding the state’s daily news briefing on the virus, but due to a delay in reporting them to the ADH, they were first counted Tuesday. In all, 374 Arkansans have died as a result of the virus, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.07%.
The number of Arkansans hospitalized due to COVID-19 rose by 17 Tuesday to reach 488, the highest number of hospitalizations related to the virus the state has seen yet. The number of Arkansans on ventilator support due to the virus dropped by one to 110.
Romero said 5,670 COVID-19 test results had been reported by Tuesday, about a third of which were processed in the ADH public health lab. The one-day positivity rate for the state Tuesday was 12.83%. Governor Asa Hutchinson said so far in July, 119,769 Arkansans have been tested for the virus, representing about 4% of the state’s population.
Since the state began testing residents for COVID-19, 439,635 Arkansans have been tested, with 404,980 negative results, indicating an overall positivity rate for the state of 7.88%.
Several large retailers have announced that they will ask all customers to wear face maks when shopping at their stores; Walmart and Walgreens announced mask policies that into effect Monday along with Hutchinson’s statewide mask mandate. Other chains include Kroger and Home Depot, whose policies go into effect today.
Johns Hopkins University reported 3,887,664 COVID-19 cases in the United States at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Of those, 1,182,018 were considered recovered, leaving 2,563,801 cases — 65.94% — active nationwide. There had been 141,845 deaths attributable to the virus in the U.S. by Tuesday afternoon, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 3.64%.
Johns Hopkins reported 14,835,470 COVID-19 cases worldwide Tuesday afternoon. Of those, 8,424,870 were considered recovered, leaving 5,796,890 cases — 39.07% — active around the world. There had been 613,710 deaths attributable to the virus by Tuesday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 4.13%.