The Arkansas Department of Health reported 16 new COVID-19 cases in Union County Saturday, bringing the cumulative total of cases identified locally to 1,436. The cases in the county Saturday included 1,228 confirmed cases, up nine from Friday, and 208 probable cases, up seven 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 Friday. Fifty-six 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, 144 people were hospitalized due to the virus Saturday, including 60 in intensive care units and 24 on ventilator support.
Seven new recoveries were reported locally Saturday, making 1,256 Union County residents considered recovered from the virus. Active cases in the county again rose to a new high, growing by nine to reach 124; they represented 8.6% of all the cases identified locally. The active cases in the county Saturday included 86 confirmed cases and 38 probable cases.
The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement released city-level COVID data updated through Nov. 16 this week. In cities where more than 10 cases have been identified, the number of cases aren’t enumerated in order to protect the privacy of those who have tested positive for the virus.
According to the ACHI, as of Nov. 16, 10 COVID-19 cases had been identified in Calion, representing 2% of the city’s population; 956 cases had been identified in El Dorado, including 57 in the past two weeks, representing 3% of the city’s population; 24 cases had been identified in Huttig, representing 2% of the city’s population; 108 cases had been identified in Junction City, representing 4% of the city’s population; 12 cases had been identified in Norphlet, representing 2% of the city’s population; 63 cases had been identified in Smackover, representing 3% of the city’s population; and 69 cases had been identified in Strong, representing 4% of the city’s population.
Fewer than 10 cases had been identified in Lawson and Mount Holly.
The ADH reported 59 new negative tests returned from Union County Saturday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 21.3% based on the number of new cases and results reported. In all, 15,183 COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, including 13,747 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 9.5%.
In Arkansas, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases grew to 143,821 Saturday, up 1,905 from Friday. There were 127,216 confirmed cases in the state Saturday, up 1,433 from Friday, and 16,605 probable cases, up 472 from Friday.
There were 123,722 Arkansans considered recovered Saturday, up 1,503 from Friday. Active cases in the state rose by 385 to reach 17,745, a new high for the state; they represented 12.3% of all the cases in the state. The active cases in Arkansas Saturday included 15,534 confirmed cases and 4,211 probable cases.
The ADH reported the deaths of 16 Arkansans Saturday, bringing the state’s death toll to 2,337, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.6%. There were 922 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus Saturday, including 354 in ICUs and 154 on ventilator support.
Since the state began testing for COVID-19, 1,697,010 results have returned to the ADH, including 1,550,055 negatives, indicating an overall positivity rate for the state of 8.5%.
At 3 p.m. Saturday, Johns Hopkins University reported 12,019,960 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Of those, 4,457,930 people were considered recovered, leaving 7,306,616 cases — 60.8% — active nationwide. There had been 255,414 deaths attributable to the virus in the U.S. by Saturday afternoon, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 2.1%.
Johns Hopkins reported 57,932,313 COVID-19 cases worldwide Saturday afternoon. Of those, 37,056,212 people were considered recovered, leaving 22,254,079 cases — 38.4% — active around the world. There had been 1,377,978 deaths attributable to the virus by Saturday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 2.4%.