13 new local COVID cases, active cases reach 88

The Arkansas Department of Health reported 13 new COVID-19 cases in Union County Saturday, bringing the cumulative total of cases identified locally to 1,333. The cases in the county Saturday included 1,160 confirmed cases, up seven from Friday, and 173 probable cases, up six from Friday.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control, the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests that determine confirmed cases are more sensitive than the antigen tests that determine probable cases.

No new local deaths attributable to COVID-19 were reported Saturday. Fifty-four Union County residents have died as a result of the virus. In the Southwest Public Health Region of the state, where Union County is located, 130 people were hospitalized due to the virus Saturday, including 46 in intensive care units and 26 on ventilator support.

Twelve new recoveries were reported locally Saturday, making 1,191 Union County residents considered recovered from the virus. Active cases in the county grew to 88, up one from Friday, reaching the county’s highest level yet and representing 6.6% of all the cases identified locally. The active cases in the county Saturday included 66 confirmed cases and 22 probable cases.

The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement released city-level COVID data updated through Nov. 9 this week. Cases aren’t enumerated for cities where fewer than 10 have been identified in order to protect the privacy of those who have contracted the virus.

According to the ACHI, as of Nov. 9, 899 cases had been identified in El Dorado, including 57 new in the last two weeks, representing 3% of the city’s population; 23 cases had been identified in Huttig, representing 2% of the city’s population; 104 cases had been identified in Junction City, representing 4% of the city’s population; 10 cases had been identified in Norphlet, representing 2% of the city’s population; 61 cases had been identified in Smackover, representing 3% of the city’s population; and 67 cases had been identified in Strong, representing 4% of the city’s population.

Fewer than 10 cases had been identified in Calion, Lawson and Mount Holly. In El Dorado, new cases were identified at a rate in the last two weeks of 18 people for every 10,000 in the population.

The ADH reported 56 new negative tests returned from Union County Saturday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 18.8% based on the number of new cases and results reported. In all, 14,565 COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, including 13,232 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 9.2%.

In Arkansas, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases grew to 132,166 Saturday, up 1,848 from Friday. There were 118,136 confirmed cases in the state Saturday, up 1,349 from Friday, and 14,030 probable cases, up 499 from Friday.

There were 113,440 Arkansans considered recovered Saturday, up 1,057 from Friday. Active cases in the state rose by 760 to reach 16,553, higher than they’ve ever been before and representing 12.5% of all the cases in the state. The active cases in Arkansas Saturday included 12,147 confirmed cases and 4,406 probable cases.

The deaths of 11 Arkansans that resulted from COVID-19 were reported Saturday, bringing the state’s death toll to 1,259, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1%. There were 812 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus Saturday, including 300 in ICUs and 121 on ventilator support.

The ADH reported 14,297 COVID-19 test results returned Saturday, indicating a one-day positivity rate for the state of 12.9% based on the number of new cases and results reported. Since the state began testing for COVID-19, 1,591,588 results have returned to the ADH, including 1,457,257 negatives, indicating an overall positivity rate for the state of 8.3%.

At 4 p.m. Saturday, Johns Hopkins University reported 10,859,661 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Of those, 4,095,146 people were considered recovered, leaving 7,519,062 cases — 60% — active nationwide. There had been 245,453 deaths attributable to the virus in the U.S. by Saturday afternoon, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 2.3%.

Johns Hopkins reported 53,747,027 COVID-19 cases worldwide Saturday afternoon. Of those, 34,587,273 people were considered recovered, leaving 17,851,632 cases — 33.2% — active around the world. There had been 1,308,122 deaths attributable to the virus by Saturday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 2.4%.

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