The Arkansas Department of Health reported 19 new COVID-19 cases in Union County Friday, bringing the cumulative number of cases identified locally to 1,002. The cases in the county Friday included 931 confirmed cases, up 11 from Thursday, and 71 probable cases, up eight from Thursday.
Advisories from the United States Centers for Disease Control say that positive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) COVID-19 test results should be considered confirmed cases, while positive antigen test results determine probable cases.
No new local deaths attributable to COVID-19 were reported Friday. Forty-seven Union County residents have died as a result of the virus. In the Southwest Public Health Region, where Union County is located, 96 people were hospitalized due to the virus Friday, including 44 in intensive care units and 17 on ventilator support.
Eleven new recoveries were reported in Union County Friday, bringing the total number of local residents considered recovered to 901. There were 54 active cases in the county Friday, up eight from Thursday and representing 5.4% of all the cases identified locally. Active cases in Union County Friday included 30 confirmed cases and 24 probable cases.
According to a report produced Oct. 8 by the ADH on COVID cases in educational institutions, there were six active COVID-19 cases in both the El Dorado School District and at South Arkansas Community College that day. The report shows that in total, 30 cases have been identified in the ESD, including eight in faculty and staff and 22 in students; and 19 cases have been identified at SouthArk. A breakdown of faculty/staff and student cases is not included in the report for SouthArk.
According to a press release produced by SouthArk on Oct. 1, as of that date, 24 positive cases had been identified at the school, including 21 students and three employees. There were three students in isolation due to positive COVID tests that day, the release says.
A report on COVID cases in nursing homes produced by the ADH on Oct. 8 shows nine active cases, six in residents and three in workers, at Advanced Health and Rehab of Union County, along with three recovered residents and 11 recovered workers; 11 active worker cases at Courtyard Rehabilitation and Health Center; and 10 active cases, eight in residents and two in workers at Hudson Memorial Nursing Home, along with 38 recovered residents and 32 recovered workers.
The nursing home report also lists two new resident cases at Courtyard, along with 30 recovered residents and 23 recovered workers. Earlier this year, a COVID-19 outbreak occurred at Courtyard, wherein 22 workers and 28 residents recovered from the virus and seven residents died as a result of it.
The ADH reported 49 new negative test results returned from Union County Friday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 27.9% based on the number of new cases and results reported. In all, 11,170 COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, including 10,168 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 9%.
The cumulative number of cases in Arkansas grew by 1,167 to reach 91,312 Friday. The cases in the state Friday included 86,960 confirmed cases, up 980 from Thursday, and 4,352 probable cases, up 187 from Thursday.
The state reported 742 new recoveries in Arkansas Friday, bringing the total number of Arkansans considered recovered to 82,305. There were 7,468 active cases in the state Friday, up 398 from Thursday and representing 8.2% of the state’s cases. The active cases in Arkansas Friday included 6,554 confirmed cases and 914 probable cases.
The ADH reported the deaths of 27 Arkansans that were caused by COVID Friday, bringing the state’s death toll to 1,530, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.7%. There were 556 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus on Friday, including 237 in ICUs and 100 on ventilator support.
Since the state began testing for COVID-19, 1,156,803 results have been reported to the ADH, including 1,065,039 negatives, indicating that the state’s overall positivity rate was 7.9% on Friday.
At 6:15 p.m. Friday, Johns Hopkins University reported 7,656,064 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Of those, 3,021,252 people were considered recovered, leaving 4,421,280 cases — 57.7% — active nationwide. There had been 213,532 deaths attributable to the virus in the U.S. by Friday afternoon, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 2.8%.
Johns Hopkins reported 36,724,164 COVID-19 cases worldwide Friday afternoon. Of those, 25,514,935 people were considered recovered, leaving 10,144,397 cases — 27.6% — active around the world. There had been 1,064,832 deaths attributable to the virus by Friday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 2.9%.