Health Report

State sees biggest case increase yet

Another local death reported but no new cases

Arkansas Health Secretary Nate Smith, left, along with Governor Asa Hutchinson talks about the effects of the covid-19 virus on the state at the governors conference room Tuesday afternoon, June 2, 2020. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/ John Sykes Jr.)
Arkansas Health Secretary Nate Smith, left, along with Governor Asa Hutchinson talks about the effects of the covid-19 virus on the state at the governors conference room Tuesday afternoon, June 2, 2020. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/ John Sykes Jr.)

On Tuesday, the Arkansas Department of Health reported the state’s biggest one-day increase in COVID-19 cases since the pandemic hit, no new cases were reported in Union County, where there have been 173 cases reported in all.

A ninth death, however, was reported locally. The ADH reported that a fourth resident of Courtyard Healthcare and Rehabilitation had died between Monday and Tuesday afternoon. The local COVID-19 mortality rate is 5.2%.

No new cases were reported at Courtyard, which has had 55 cases in the facility in all. Two of of 35 residents who have tested positive are now considered recovered, and 11 of 20 workers who have tested posiitve are recovered, according to the ADH. No new cases or recoveries have been reported for Community Living Arrangements, where nine residents and three workers have tested positive for COVID-19.

Recoveries increased by seven to 139, leaving local 25 cases — 14% — active. Only four negative test results were returned for Union County between Monday and Tuesday, however.

A free testing event is scheduled at the Union County Fairgrounds this Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Testing is also ongoing at the Medical Center of South Arkansas and South Arkansas Medical Association (SAMA).

Arkansas saw its biggest one-day increase in COVID-19 cases, jumping to 7,818 cases by Tuesday afternoon, an increase of 375 from Monday. All but one were in the community, with one returning from a prison in the state.

Three more Arkansans were reported dead on Tuesday, bringing the state’s death toll to 136, indicating a statewide mortality rate of 1.7%. Of the state’s cases, 2,115 — 27% — remain active. Gov. Asa Hutchinson also announced that 132 Arkansans were hospitalized as of Tuesday afternoon. That’s a new record for the state.

Hutchinson said he has a goal to test 120,000 Arkansans this month, which translates to about 1% of the population per week. It is double what his goal for May was; that goal was reached several days before the end of the month. He has also said the state plans to test every nursing home resident and worker in the state this month.

Over 131,000 negative tests have been reported statewide, indicating an overall positivity rate for Arkansas of 5.6%.

In the United States, cases increased to 1,830,066, with 106,120 deaths reported, indicating a national mortality rate of 5.7%.

The World Health Organization reported 6,194,533 COVID-19 cases worldwide, with 376,320 deaths, indicating a global mortality rate of 6.07%.

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