The Arkansas Department of Health reported 13 new COVID-19 cases in Union County Thursday, bringing the cumulative total of cases identified locally to 924. The cases in the county included 889 confirmed cases, up 10 from Wednesday, and 35 probable cases, up three from Wednesday.
The United States Centers for Disease Control advises that positive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) COVID-19 tests should be considered confirmed cases and positive antigen tests, which the agency says are less sensitive, should be considered probable cases.
The ADH also reported six local residents’ deaths that were caused by COVID-19 on Wednesday, a one-day record locally for deaths caused by COVID. Forty-six Union County residents have now died as a result of the virus, indicating a local COVID mortality rate — the percentage of those who have contracted the virus and died as a result of it — of 5%.
Five new recoveries were reported in Union County Wednesday as well, bringing the total number of local residents considered recovered to 838. There were 40 active cases in the county Thursday, up two from Wednesday and representing 4.3% of the cases identified locally. Active cases included 27 confirmed cases and 13 probable cases.
Five active cases in the Smackover-Norphlet School District were included in a report produced Thursday by the ADH on COVID cases in educational institutions in the state. The report lists 22 total cases identified in the district.
A report on COVID cases in nursing homes produced by the ADH Wednesday reported five active cases, three in residents and two in workers, at Advanced Health and Rehab of Union County; 63 active cases, 45 in residents and 18 in workers, at Hudson Memorial Nursing Home; one active worker case at Oak Ridge Health and Rehab; and four active resident cases at Timberlane Health and Rehab. On Thursday, however, a post on Timberlane’s Facebook page reported that the facility was COVID-free.
In the Southwest Public Health Region, where Union County is located, 84 people were hospitalized due to the virus Thursday, including 41 in intensive care units and 23 on ventilator support.
The ADH reported 139 new negative test results returned from Union County Thursday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 8.6% based on the number of new cases and results reported. In all, 10,250 COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, including 9,326 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 9%.
In Arkansas, 1,124 COVID-19 cases were reported Thursday, bringing the cumulative total of cases in the state to 84,821. There were 81,531 confirmed cases in the state Thursday, up 921 from Wednesday, and 3,290 probable cases, up 203 from Wednesday.
There were 76,186 Arkansans considered recovered from the virus Thursday, up 874 from Wednesday. Active cases in the state rose to 7,244 Thursday, up 235 from Wednesday and representing 8.5% of the cases in the state. Active cases Thursday included 6,552 confirmed cases and 692 probable cases.
The ADH reported the deaths of 15 Arkansans that resulted from COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the state’s death toll to 1,384, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.6%. There were 479 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus on Thursday, including 226 in ICUs and 92 on ventilator support.
Since the state began testing for COVID-19, 1,054,699 test results have been reported to the ADH, including 969,560 negatives, indicating that the state’s positivity rate was 8% Thursday.
At 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Johns Hopkins University reported 7,268,298 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Of those, 2,840,747 people were considered recovered, leaving 4,219,946 cases — 58.1% — active nationwide. There had been 207,605 deaths attributable to the virus by Thursday night, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 2.9%.
Johns Hopkins reported 34,124,948 COVID-19 cases worldwide Thursday afternoon. Of those, 23,703,113 people were considered recovered, leaving 9,405,112 cases — 27.6% — active around the world. There had been 1,016,723 deaths attributable to the virus by Thursday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 3%.